Independent Living

Most disability entitlements presuppose living in Greece, as they are mainly provided through social security bodies (health care and medical provisions, cash benefits and assistive equipment), social welfare (benefits and health care for the uninsured) and the Greek Manpower Organization, where it concerns employment. All disability entitlements run on a national scheme, which means that mobility within the country does not obstruct eligibility or access to entitlements.

As regards entitlement of EU citizens and their family members (either EU or third-countries citizens) to disability provisions in Greece, this is dependent on their residency status, with the exception of receiving health-care during a short -stay in Greece (for holders of the European Health Card).
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Overall, there has been apparent lack of systematic research with regards to the employment of disabled people in Greece. Research evaluating the impact of active policies and funding programmes intended to promote employment for disabled people is entirely absent. More qualitative research should also focus on the obstacles in accessing employment and the kind of assistance needed within the workplace, so as to feedback to guidelines for implementing equality in employment.
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Since 1999 until 2007 (latest available) disability is not counted in national statistical surveys for social inclusion (monetary terms) and social exclusion (non-monetary indicators such as fulfilling basic needs, social deprivation, quality of life). Data is analysed according to age, sex, work, level of education and type of household.

The rate of individuals below poverty line was 20% in 2007 (set threshold: 6.120€ per year for individuals and 12.852€ for a couple with two dependent children) against 19.6% in 2005. There remains a considerable difference with the EU-25 average at 16%, while the difference for people over 65 is much larger at 28% compared to 18% in EU-25.
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Employment law and policy with regards to disability in Greece is one of the most active fields of action for social inclusion of disabled people. The law involves both mainstream approaches and special activation policies for the employment of disabled people, although the former has only recently been a reality by transposing EU directives for equal treatment and accessibility at work.
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The key features of the community support system in Greece for people with disability are financial empowerment through disability benefits and pensions, provision of aids and equipment and the provision of state-funded community-based or short-term residential rehabilitation services (L2072/1992). Local support started to appear in the form of small pilot projects with Help at Home in 1997 (L5814/1997), and developed through local social services departments and networks of support centres across the country only after 2003 (L3106/03).
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DESIGN FOR ALL From school to practice

1. Main objectives of the project

This project is to promote “Accessibility for all» within the framework of the built-up areas and of the public infrastructures.
It works on the principle that the persons in charge of ” Accessibility for all ” are in very first place the decision makers, local councillors for public spaces and promoters for built spaces, and Designers, town planners and architects, who apply the programs wanted by their decision makers.
The decision makers like the originators, in spite of a real goodwill, only have a very insufficient knowledge of the daily needs of the people in situation of handicap. Very often, they limit their interventions to the only respect of the national law and normative minima.
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A few of disabled persons were asked what Independent Living meant to them and these were the varied responses received:
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“Independent Living isn’t doing everything by yourself—it’s being in control of how things are done.”
—Independent living pioneer Judy Heumann, quoted by Ken Stein in text accompanying Stein’s photo exhibit of CIL’s history in Rasputin’s windows at 2401 Telegraph Ave.

Today it sounds like something from ancient history: a physically disabled person earning a university degree is relegated to living in a hospital.

But that’s what happened in 1962 to Ed Roberts, who was severely disabled from polio with virtually no functional movement and dependent on a respirator to breathe.
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Whether you anticipate changes in your health status or that of a friend or relative, modifying a home to accommodate a disability could be a component of those changes. While you may have visions of drop cloths, plastic sheeting and drywall dust all over your home, don’t worry. Many home modifications need not involve noisy construction and costly contractors. There are many inexpensive ways to make your home more accessible.
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The government says it is committed to giving disabled people greater independence, but in reality progress is stifled by red tape and severe funding shortages. Andrew Cole on how a radical new bill aims to address this…
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OAKLAND, Md. — It’s no secret that farming is hard work. Many aspects of the job demand physical labor, and farmers know that some tasks will be harder than others. But they do what is needed to get the job accomplished. However, for some people, even everyday chores become challenging because they have a disability, and they can’t always perform tasks like everyone else.
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Cindy Peacock, 31, is losing her vision through retinitis pigmentosa, a progressive degenerative illness. She has neither a guide dog nor a white cane, but when, 18 months ago, she lost her bearings on her way to pick up her son from school in Dagenham, Essex, and suffered a panic attack, she realised she needed support.
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A review of Government policy on independent living for disabled people was today announced by Baroness Royall, Government Whip and Health spokesperson.
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People using social care and other local authority services should be given individual budgets so that they can buy in the services they need, according to proposals to radically reform social care, announced by UK Health Secretary John Reid today.
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Not every disabled person wants the responsibilities that direct payments bring. If the system is to work a range of options are needed, says Robin Currie
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