Empowerment

We need more inclusion for people with disabilities

Staff

29 February Feb 2016 1339 29 February 2016

Over one billion people in the world live with disabilities. According to a recent report, for 1/7 of our global population, inclusion in society is made more difficult by physical barriers such as inaccesible buildings, and mental barriers of stigma and discrimination. Promoting a psychosocial approach to inclusion through empowerment might be the solution.

According to a recent report, people with disabilities are amongst the most marginalised, especially in low resource settings.

Despite the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) being adopted in May 2008, which states that all persons with all types of impairments must enjoy all human rights and fundamental freedoms, disability foundations are calling for more inclusion for people with disabilities world wide.

Disabled people are faced with many barriers to participation in society. Physical barriers like poor lighting in public spaces, or limited information communication can present significant problems. Attitudinal barriers of ignorance and prejudice often leads to isolation and depression. Depression itself is the leading cause of disability worldwide, with over 350 million people affected.

The psychosocial approach to empowerment

Leading disability foundations including the Red Cross and Light for the World have come together to create "Different. Just like you": a handbook of best practices for tackling these barriers. The psychosocial approach to empowerment facilitates resilience within individuals, families and communities.

"By respecting the independence, dignity and coping mechanisms of individuals and communities, psychosocial support helps to restore social cohesion and infrastructure" says the report.

Empowerment focuses on strengthening. Individuals, organizations and communities are encouraged to ‘get a grip’ of their own situations and surroundings. By seeking to participate and acquiring control, persons with disabilities are not seen as helpless victims. Instead, they are recognized for both their vulnerable and resourceful sides. The focus of empowerment is therefore on health, wellbeing, power and environmental influences, and not on problems.

In practical terms, the psychosocial approach covers a broad range of activities. From inclusive sports programs, to gardening projects for the blind like the one organised by Dutch organization Bartiméus, the approach aims to foster well-being, empowerment, and inclusion.

The handbook contains practical guidance on how to plan and implement activities, as well as background material on key concepts and the legal framework in relation to psychosocial support and inclusion.

To read the full report, click here

Photo credits: Getty Images

More

Vita Editore

Company

Services

European Year of Rail 2021 – Rail can make a big contribution to smart and sustainable mobility

The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) held an event promoting the European year dedicated to rail and explaining its potential to become a fully sustainable and competitive transport option, thereby helping to achieve the Green Deal targets

AI in Europe: not all decisions can be reduced to ones and zeros, says the EESC

In two reports on draft EU legislation on artificial intelligence, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) calls for an all-out ban on social scoring in the EU and for a complaint and redress mechanism for people who have suffered harm from an AI system.

Broad participation by civil society is key to a strong recovery in Europe

CARE commits $130M to work towards SDG5: gender equality

EU Commission proposes coordinated measures for the safe reopening of the cultural sector

We need more inclusion for people with disabilities

Related news

Community transport could save public services £1.1 billion

The findings of a new report by ECT Charity, one of the leaders of community transport in Great Britain

Brando Benifei: «Politics must be ambitious with the rights of disabled people»

Disabled people and the associations involved with their aspirations can count on the genuine commitment of the young MEP Brando Benifei. In this interview to Vita International he is calling to include the perspective of disabled people in every piece of legislation.

A swing accessible to children in wheelchairs

Developed thanks the efforts of the voluntary association Genitori H24 (Parents H24), the swing was inaugurated last summer in the Italian city of Matera.

Renewed hope for progress for persons with disabilities in the EU

Persons with disabilities are a growing share of the European population. Their daily life is hampered by a lack of accessible goods and services. Although the European Union has set a framework for promoting accessibility, its implementation has not been easy.

Access City Award 2016 for access-friendly cities goes to Milan

The prize is awarded to European cities for their efforts to improve accessibility for people with disabilities and the elderly.

The European Disability Forum welcomes the European Accessibility Act

On December 2 the European Commission published the European Accessibility Act. The European Disability Forum welcomes this long-awaited piece of legislation that has been at the centre of its Freedom of Movement campaign for over three years.

Migration can benefit the world. This is how we at the UN plan to help

Uber dealt blow after EU court classifies it as transport service

Britain is the most individualistic country in the EU, Europe-wide survey finds

Eu says Brexit transition to end by 31 December 2020