Blog post written by Meelis Joost, Chairman of the Estonian Chamber of People with Disabilities.
On 5 December, the headquarters of the Estonian Chamber of People with Disabilities (EPIK) was full of quests. Key cooperation partners and prize winners in 10 categories proposed by EPIK members were coming together.
Cooperation partners including the City of Tallinn, Estonian Ministry of Social Affairs, Chancellor of Justice Office Legal Advice Bureau, Estonian Association of Pharmaceutical Producers, Estonian Social Insurance Board, Estonian Employment Board, Consumer Protection and Technical Regulatory Authority were the ones attending.
Also, EPIK introduced an annual attempt to highlight important persons and achievements in 10 categories, proposed by the EPIK board and nominations by members. 68 candidates were proposed altogether, most notably including 3 remarkable persons with disabilities.
The prizes were given in the following categories and to the following persons or achievements:
- Remarkable person with disability – 3 persons were highlighted as follows:
- Hendra Raud, for fighting for medical treatment of SMA
- Jüri Lehtmets from the Estonian Muscular Dystrophy NGO, for storytelling and fighting for the rights of people with muscular diseases
- Janek Muru for his work in easy-to-read language.
- Remarkable organisation of people with disabilities – Estonian Special Olympics Association
- An initiative with great societal impact – Mobile hearing checking team “Hearing bus”
- Best accessibility solution – Accessible beach in Kunda, Viru-Nigula Municipality
- Disability-friendly local authority – Tartu City Municipality
- Most disability-friendly official – Mr. Aare Voksepp, for great flexibility in organising social transportation for people with disabilities in the island of Saaremaa
- Disability-friendly employer – Estonian Health Board
- Remarkable service provider – NGO Pärnu County Public Transportation Centre
- Remarkable volunteer – Mr. Sören Jõõras, for training the indoor hockey team of electric wheelchair users
- Disability-friendly media personality – Ms. Kadri Kuulpak from newspaper Õhtuleht, for interviewing people with disabilities and highlighting important issues in the field of disability policy.
The rights and quality of life of persons with disabilities have been challenged during recent years of various crises. Fighting for better conditions is no easy task. However, the EPIK membership and the executive team is positive and hope the UN CRPD and EU decisions can back up and contribute to a better future, where the voices of people with disabilities are heard and taken into account.
EPIK’s work with EDF
As well as being one of our members, EPIK is a partner in the Disability Rights in the European Elections (DREE) project, coordinated by EDF. The DREE project aims to increase access to political participation for persons with disabilities, facilitating voting, candidacy and political activism ahead of the 2024 European elections.