Ensuring the rights of people with disabilities and combating prejudices and discrimination is a priority of the Government, stated the President of the Republic, Nikos Christodoulides, in his address at the 42nd Annual General Assembly of the Cyprus Organisation for the Blind.
According to an announcement conveyed by GTB, the greeting was read on behalf of President Christodoulides by the Deputy Minister of Social Welfare, Marilena Evaggelou.
“Undoubtedly, people with visual disabilities in Cyprus have the right to equal and active participation in the social life of our country. It is the state’s obligation to provide opportunities and resources for them to be active members of society,” President Christodoulides stated.
It is noted that ensuring the rights of people with disabilities and combating prejudices and discrimination is a priority of the Government. This is highlighted through the First National Strategy for Disability for 2018-2028, as well as the three-year National Action Plans that gather and depict all actions of all state services that serve, within their responsibilities, people with disabilities.
“The purpose of the actions promoted is to align with modern trends and practices in addressing disability, taking into account the demands of the directly involved citizens, within the framework of the available resources and capabilities of the state,” it stated.
Additionally, for empowering individuals with visual disabilities and facilitating their lives, the following support measures are of crucial importance: a monthly allowance for blind individuals received by approximately 2,000 people, a monthly transportation subsidy, disability allowance for recipients of Minimum Guaranteed Income, in-home care subsidy, car purchase subsidy, and subsidy for the acquisition of technical aids and assistive technology equipment.
Furthermore, he/she stated that the Pancyprian Organization of the Blind, through the provision of grants by the Department of Social Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities, employs social companions to assist the visually impaired in all cities.
It was emphasized that through these programs, beyond the 750 members of the Organization who benefit, those who use the services of the companion are facilitated and encouraged not only for their service needs but also for mobility, engagement, socialization, participation, and inclusion in general.
President Christodoulides noted that for employment inclusion, the Law on the Employment of Persons with Disabilities in the Broader Public Sector has provided opportunities for dozens of visually impaired individuals who possessed the necessary qualifications to be appointed in the Public Sector.
It was also added that opportunities for employment in the private sector were provided through the Schemes for Incentives to Businesses for Hiring Persons with Disabilities, as well as through the Scheme for Granting Aid to Small Units for Self-Employment in any viable professional sector.
In the field of social entrepreneurship, the Cyprus Organization of the Blind is already pioneering by organizing training programs that inform and prepare visually impaired individuals to cultivate a culture of entrepreneurship. With the completion of the legal framework expected this year, they will be ready to integrate or establish their own social enterprises.
It was emphasized that the Government aims to create new job opportunities, which, in combination with economic and other incentives, as well as training and advisory services, will constitute a new framework for professional rehabilitation of individuals with visual or other disabilities.
The President of the Republic mentioned that in the field of support for independent living, the Cyprus Organization of the Blind operates a supported living residence, providing supportive services for care, entertainment, companionship, psychological support, and socialization.
The goal, he added, is the continuous growth and progress of the residents, strengthening their social and other skills, further education and development based on their talents and preferences, improving and maintaining a high level of their quality of life.
“We continue towards the full integration of people with disabilities into the social fabric and the modernization of social protection policies, with new services such as Personal Assistants and Counselors, based on the principles and values of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities,” he said.
It was also mentioned that the Governance Program aims to modernize existing legislation and adopt new legislation, such as providing access to support services for decision-making or assistance in independent living.
President Christodoulides congratulated the Cyprus Organization of the Blind and expressed his appreciation for its longstanding contribution to citizens with visual impairments and for the valuable work it carries out in all areas that affect their lives.
Source: KYPE
