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“They tied a child’s wheelchair with a rope” – Serious allegations before the Parliament

19 September 2023

The strong concern and anxiety have been raised regarding what was heard in front of the Parliament, concerning the way and means of transporting children with disabilities. There were reports of a disabled wheelchair being tied with a rope inside a bus that was transporting students to and from school. Furthermore, the absence of clear legislation was presented as the perfect excuse for government services to justify the unjustifiable. The Human Rights Committee, in response to a letter from Kostas Groutidis in which he explained the ordeal his son went through to attend school trips with his classmates during the

USA: Only 21% of people with disabilities were employed in 2022.

11 September 2023

How employers can reduce biases in hiring people with disabilities Only 21% of people with disabilities were employed in the USA in 2022, as reported by CNBC. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one in four adults in the United States has a disability that affects their major life activities, including challenges in hearing and vision, mobility, cognition, independent living, and engaging in activities such as dressing. In total, 61 million Americans have some form of disability. Despite the additional challenges in their daily lives, a significant portion of this population can work – and desires to

ADHD & Hyperfocus: The Phenomenon of Extreme Concentration

11 September 2023

Have you ever found yourself so deeply absorbed in what you’re doing that time passes by very quickly? Perhaps it’s playing a musical instrument, reading an exciting book, or learning a new skill. For individuals who do not have ADHD (Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder), this state of flow can be a pleasant or productive way to spend time. However, for those who suffer from ADHD, periods of hyperfocus can be both a blessing and a curse. Hyperfocus is not an official symptom of ADHD. In fact, it sounds contradictory to what ADHD is more widely known for, which is inattention and lack

The Municipality of Ayia Napa provides specific benefits to persons with disabilities (PWD).

11 September 2023

The Municipality of Ayia Napa will provide specific benefits for people with disabilities (PWD), including tax discounts, free admission to the Sea Museum, and free parking, as announced on Monday by Mayor Christos Zannettou during his speech at the presentation of the project “Accessible Nature and Culture – Sustainable Tourism – In Heritage.” The Mayor stated that the event “marks the culmination of an almost five-year journey, involving discussions with partners, the preparation of proposals, and their submission.” The collaboration between the Municipality of Ayia Napa and the Municipality of Rethymno, he noted, “is a continuation of a long-standing friendship,

Hopes for halting Duchenne muscular dystrophy

11 September 2023

“Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) is a genetic disorder that progressively causes muscle degeneration throughout the body, leading to weakness and increasing disability. It is one of the most common forms of muscular dystrophy, with an annual incidence of 1 in 3,500 births worldwide. Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) primarily affects boys due to its X-linked inheritance pattern. Symptoms usually manifest around the age of 3-5 or even earlier. Girls can be carriers of the mutated gene and typically do not develop the disease, although they may experience muscle weakness and fatigue or cardiomyopathy at a later age. Managing and treating Duchenne

How Fires Affect the Eyes – Irritations and Inflammations of the Eyes that Impact Vision.

11 September 2023

Over the past decade, devastating forest fires have struck Australia, Europe, and America, exposing millions of people to their toxic smoke. This has consequences for the human body, with the eyes, which have direct contact with their surface, being one of the first organs affected. “The smooth function of the eye’s surface (ocular surface) is crucial for vision. However, it is not a single entity but consists of individual structures, each of which can be affected by smoke,” says Dr. Anastasios-I. Kanellopoulos, MD, Ophthalmic Surgeon, founder and Scientific Director of the LaserVision Ophthalmology Institute, Professor of Ophthalmology at the University

The intervention of the Multiple Sclerosis Association and OSAC on the issue of Despina Rousou.

8 September 2023

The Pan-Cypriot Multiple Sclerosis Association, in its statement, “condemns the removal of the journalist from the Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation, Despina Rousou,” from her duties, “a decision that was taken arbitrarily and without respect and dignity.” The Pan-Cypriot Multiple Sclerosis Association also expresses “strong dissatisfaction and protest against the heartless and unjust treatment of a person with a disability and calls for the immediate intervention and support of the relevant authorities regarding this poor treatment,” as stated, by the Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation (RIK). The Pan-Cypriot Multiple Sclerosis Association hopes for “the elimination of discrimination against people with disabilities.” It also states

Inclusion Program for Children with Hearing Loss in Middle and Technical Education

7 September 2023

Subject: Integration Program for Children with Hearing Loss in Secondary and Technical Education The education of children with hearing loss in general education has been legally safeguarded through the enactment and implementation of Law 113(I)/99 “On the Education and Training of Children with Special Needs of 1999,’ as well as the accompanying regulations.” The inclusion of these children in General Secondary and Technical and Vocational Education and Training is working very successfully. This is evident from their entry into Higher Education Institutions in Cyprus and elsewhere. To continue and enhance the effective education of children with hearing loss, the following

There is a gene that may affect our biological clock and is associated with the development of autistic disorders.

4 September 2023

A recent study published in the prestigious journal Molecular Psychiatry by a team of scientists from the Medical School of the University of Minnesota, the University of Texas, San Antonio, and the Institute of Biomedical Research (IBR) of the Foundation for Research and Technology (FORTH) reveals that a gene that plays a central role in regulating the circadian or biological clock may be associated with the development of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Neurodevelopmental disorder of the autistic spectrum (ASD) is characterized by a wide range of behavioral changes, including social skills, repetitive behaviors, speech, and non-verbal communication. According to the

The legacy of the Special Olympics

31 August 2023

But what is the legacy of these games? Perhaps the visibility, of the participation of people with disabilities in sports, art, and public action without fear and shame. To come forward and draw the spotlight on them. Through visibility and public debate, the realization is that modern society is inherently colorful and polyphonic with equal rights to be afforded to all. Berlin is a city with a heavy shadow of history. The Olympic Stadium, which gave the impetus for this year’s Special Olympics for athletes with intellectual disabilities, also has its own heavy history. The 1936 Olympics were overshadowed by

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