The Polish Presidency and the European Commission organised the high-level event “Raising awareness of the potential of persons with disabilities” on 28 March. The event brought together disability advocates, experts and policymakers to discuss inclusion in the labour market, representation in media, and promoting independent living.
Summary
The panellists’ main conclusions included:
- When EU countries use quotas for the employment of persons with disabilities, the systems often allow companies to avoid fines by subcontracting to sheltered workshops for certain jobs.
- The representation of persons with disabilities in the media should not present their disabilities as the core of their existence.
- The increase of institutionalised persons in the EU, and the need to clearly step up efforts to move away from institutions for persons with disabilities.
Opening speeches
Łukasz Krasoń, the Polish Government Plenipotentiary for Persons with Disabilities, opened the event by mentioning investment in disability inclusion:
We must convince people that spending money on the inclusion of persons with disabilities is a worthwhile investment. Otherwise, citizens would simply prefer to keep that money for themselves.
Ana Carla Pereira, Director for the services on Equality at the European Commission followed by focusing on independent living and employment. She said that
Inclusion in the labour market for everyone is an essential aspect of life because it brings economic independence, which is conducive to independence and autonomy. For persons with disabilities, it is a crucial aspect to address.
She added:
When people talk of the cost of personal assistance, what we should recall is the cost to the society because of the exclusion of person with disabilities […] It is not just an issue of fundamental rights. It is also the smart thing to do. We need all talents and everyone to be part of our economic life”
Li Andersson, Chair of the European Parliament’s Committee on Employment and Social Affairs, delivered the last opening speech highlighting that
We need many more persons with all kinds of disabilities acting as role models in our society, on television, in magazines, as ministers, as MEPs, and MPs.
Inclusion in the workplace and labour market
The first panel discussed the inclusion of persons with disabilities in the labour market. The panellists were:
- Małgorzata Lorek, CEO of the Polish State Fund for Rehabilitation of People with Disabilities
- Monika Chaba, policy officer at the European Commission
- Dovilė Juodkaité, our board member and responsible for the European Economic and Social Committee’s opinion on the risks and opportunities for persons with disabilities arising from the use of new technologies
- Mateusz Palian, Legal advisor at the Polish Organization of Employers of Persons with Disabilities.
Main conclusions included:
- The inability of sheltered workshops to ensure sufficient transition to the open labour market for persons with disabilities.
- That it’s legal for employers in Poland to outsource services to sheltered workshops in order not to pay a fine for not meeting disability employment targets. This goes against international human rights treaties.
- Many employers are unaware of the costs of reasonable accommodation, notably that most are free, and that the average cost is around 500€.
- The intention to address the issue of disability allowance combined with earnings from employment in the future Disability Employment Package.
Representation in the media
The second panel focused on equal representation in the media (including social media).
The opening remarks were given by Łukasz Krasoń, who stated that
the need for support is not something that should result in people being locked out of the system. The system should notice disabilities, and the media should show persons with disabilities as they should be seen.
It was followed by a panel with:
- Łukasz Wielgosz, Member of the Board at Avalon Foundation
- Jan Mela, social activist and traveler
- Magdalena Kocejko, expert at SGH Warsaw School of Economics
- Lidia Best, President of the European Federation of Hard of Hearing People
Main conclusions included:
- Persons with disabilities shouldn’t be shown in media in a way that suggests their disability is their sole defining feature.
- The damage done to the disability community by representing persons with disabilities as either inspirational heroes for accomplishing everyday tasks or as being poor victims.
- The need to change the absence of representation of persons with disabilities not only in the media, but also in education curricula and textbooks.
Promoting independent living
The last panel focused on ways to promote independent living.
Nadia Hadad, our Executive Committee member and Co-Chair of the European Network on Independent Living, opened the panel by stating that
A lot of people in Europe are still under guardianship as supported decision making is not sufficiently supported in some Member States. We, persons with disabilities might sometimes end up making some mistakes when we decide for ourselves, but so does everyone else.
Lucie Davoine, Acting Head of the Disability Unit at the European Commission moderated a panel with
- Ana Peláez Narváez, our Secretary General
- Olga Martinez de Briones from the European Commission
- Krzysztof Kurowski, Chair of the Board of Polish Disability Forum (PFON)
- Kirsi Konola, President of the European Association of Services Providers for Persons with Disabilities (EASPD)
- Stecy Yghemonos, Director of European Association Working with and for Informal Carers – Eurocarers
Main conclusions include:
- The shocking increase in the number of persons with disabilities in institutions in many EU countries.
- The higher risk of physical and sexual abuse, and even forced sterilisation, of those living in institutions.
- The great lack of understanding about disability issues that the Polish disability movement faces when talking with some officials working in public authorities.
Ana Peláez Narváez stated
We should be shocked by how many persons with disabilities are still living in (residential) institutions and that the EU has not taken the action needed to put an end to this. 13 EU Member States have more persons with disabilities living in institutions than 10 years ago. In France the number has doubled, and in Poland, this figure has increased by 80%. How has this been allowed to happen?”
She added
We are asking the EU and the Member States to ensure that no EU funds can be used to institutionalise people without their consent. It is an absolutely terrible thing.
Krzysztof Kurowski also added an important view from persons with disabilities, including
Sometimes policy makers say to us ‘let’s not exaggerate with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, we need to take reality into account. Or that ‘the CRPD committee is out of touch’. Sometimes it seems that they don’t see the need for making their premises accessible, as they don’t think persons with disabilities ever come to meet them.
Closing Remarks
Hadja Lahbib, European Commissioner for Equality delivered the first closing remarks. She said included a message for each topic.
On employment:
People with disabilities have talent and potential to strengthen and invigorate work places. We need to spread the message widely and clearly: to make sure everyone understands their value. Employment is more than a paycheque. It is a doorway to inclusion, independence and equal opportunities.
On media representation:
harmful stereotypes are holding us back, including in the media. We need to fight these whenever and wherever they appear.
On Independent living:
Independent living is not just about services. This is why we need to also invest more in accessible housing in the community.
Łukasz Krasoń closed the meeting with a call to
We see across the Atlantic that many good standards and things that have been fought for are being undone. We, in Europe, cannot abandon the idea that the only way forward is to abide by the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Without the support people have fought for, they will again be enclosed in spaces where they don’t want to go. We cannot go back there!