News

Twin: New exoskeleton gives mobility to people with disabilities

17 April 2024

A new robotic exoskeleton could allow individuals who have lost the ability to move their legs to stand up and even walk again. It can also help them walk independently, guiding their movements and keeping them upright as they participate in rehabilitation therapy. Named Twin, the exoskeleton designed in Italy for the lower body was presented at the Museum of Science and Technology in Milan. It is still in the prototype stage and is being developed by scientists from the Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (Italian Institute of Technology) and the Istituto Nazionale Assicurazione Infortuni sul Lavoro (National Institute for Insurance

The 4 early signs – sos that we suffer from vertigo and we don’t know it.

16 April 2024

It can occur at any age. Audiologists share the red “lines” that urgently signal that we should check our ears as soon as possible While we often believe that hearing loss is something that only happens to much older people, this is not actually true. According to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) in the United States, 1 in 8 people aged 12 and older has hearing loss in both ears, and approximately 28.8 million adults in the US could benefit from hearing aids. While difficulty in hearing may be the most obvious sign that we

“Lazy eye” may be responsible for metabolic syndrome in adult life, study finds

15 April 2024

A pediatric ophthalmic condition may jeopardize health in adult life, according to a recent study. Amblyopia, also known as “lazy eye,” manifests during childhood, and its impact could extend into adulthood, causing various dysfunctions. Specifically, children who experience this condition are more likely to develop hypertension, obesity, and metabolic syndrome in adulthood, as well as an increased risk of heart attack, according to a recent study by researchers at University College London. However, in their publication in eClinicalMedicine, the authors emphasize that although they identified an association, their research does not demonstrate a causal relationship between amblyopia and adverse health

Compulsory sterilization in Europe

13 April 2024

People with disabilities are more vulnerable to abusive behavior from their surroundings and even from their own families. This happens due to their difference. And because some countries do not consider these individuals reproductive due to their illness. Therefore, they are not considered functional to contribute to a job. The violence they experience is increasing, especially in women with disabilities. One form of violence they experience is compulsory sterilization. According to the European Disability Forum (EDF), governments in thirteen member states of the European Union implement compulsory sterilization on women with disabilities. This is another form of violence experienced by

Ablebook Awarded at the 2024 Youth Awards for Social Inclusion

12 April 2024

With pride and joy, we announce the awarding of Ablebook at the Youth Awards 2024 of the Cyprus Youth Organization, in the category of “Elimination of Social Discrimination”. This award recognizes the commitment and dedication of Ablebook to promoting accessibility through technology. Ablebook was designed from the ground up with the goal of making life easier for people with disabilities, by providing a platform that is accessible and user-friendly for everyone. This distinction is the result of our team’s continuous effort to make society more accessible and inclusive for everyone, regardless of their different needs and abilities. Ablebook would like

The road to elections is full of obstacles for people with disabilities.

29 March 2024

Respecting the rights of people with disabilities starts with each one of us, and primarily with the state itself. The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, among other things, addresses the issue of accessibility. While the word “accessibility” usually brings to mind sidewalks, ramps, etc., these days, our thoughts turn to polling stations and voting booths. Respect for persons with disabilities entails measures that allow every citizen to participate unhindered in electoral procedures. However, while in other countries there is the possibility of electronic voting, exercising the right using sign language, and ballots in Braille, in Cyprus we

Vacation Subsidy Scheme for Persons with Disabilities for 2024

28 March 2024

The Holiday Subsidy Scheme for People with Disabilities, approved by the Council of Ministers on 10/05/2022, for vacations to be taken within 2024, will operate for 2024, according to the Department of Social Integration of Persons with Disabilities (DSIPD). According to the department’s announcement, the application submission will start from March 11, 2024, and will last until November 30, 2024, or until the fund for this Scheme is exhausted. Interested parties can obtain the guide of the Holiday Subsidy Scheme for People with Disabilities as well as the application form from the department’s website: www.dmsw.gov.cy/dsid and from the Assessment Centers

Katerina Saranti: ‘I say it with pride that I belong to the disability movement

20 March 2024

In today’s episode of “When Life Gives You Lemons,” I host champion para-triathlete Katerina Saranti, who was born with a partial development of both tibias, as during embryonic development, her legs developed incompletely from the knees down. From infancy until the age of 18, she underwent dozens of surgical procedures. Katerina Saranti was born and raised in Rhodes, Greece, and from a young age, she had a passion for sports. In school, a gym teacher advised her to get exempt from Physical Education classes because it would lower her overall grade average. At the age of 17, after a trip

“The linkage of disability benefits with the Minimum Guaranteed Income creates distortions,” says the Commissioner for Administration.

14 March 2024

“Public services should reach reasonable solutions and avoid any inconvenience to citizens.” The linkage of the disability benefit with the minimum guaranteed income creates distortions,” notes Commissioner for Administration Maria Stylianou Lottides in her report, while also emphasizing that public services, particularly those dedicated to serving vulnerable population groups, should, within their discretion, seek reasonable solutions and avoid any inconvenience to citizens. Specifically, as reported, ‘XX, on July 28, 2022,

Government Willingness to Disconnect Disability Allowances from Guaranteed Minimum Income (GMI) – A New Policy Requested

11 March 2024

There is strong political will to shape special legislation for people with disabilities, aiming to disconnect allowances from the Guaranteed Minimum Income (GMI), stated Deputy Minister of Social Welfare Marilena Evangelou during the discussion on the matter in the Parliamentary Labor Committee. As Mrs. Evangelou mentioned, a first meeting has already taken place with the Cyprus Confederation of Disabled People’s Organizations (CCDPO), and consultations will continue in early March to address overall issues of social inclusion, rehabilitation, participation, as well as social benefits and services. She noted that this would involve modernizing legislation and that she personally considers the disconnecting

Newsroom