Disability and poverty affect many parts of the world. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), at least 1.3 billion people worldwide live with a disability. Unfortunately, many people with disabilities also live in poverty. These two forces combine to make the situation much tougher than many people realize. Disability and poverty are issues in Greece, but efforts are being made to address the challenges.
The relationship between disability and poverty in Greece
Greece has a particular access problem when it comes to disability and poverty. According to a policy brief produced by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in 2021, people with disabilities have problems receiving the appropriate medical care they need. The report notes that a lack of public healthcare forces people to turn to private healthcare, which is generally expensive and likely a lack of choice for the poor.
Greece also has a problem with children with disabilities, who often do not have the proper support facilities in the classroom, and the Greek education system is also under-resourced to support children with physical and mental disabilities.
The theme of access for people with disabilities seems to be prevalent in different parts of Greece: during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Greek National Federation of Disabled People reported in 2020 that there was a lack of support for people with physical disabilities who were confined to their homes during the crisis.
In Greece, the majority of people with disabilities face difficulties due to inadequate physical access. This includes lack of access to buildings, transportation, and mainstream areas. It is important to emphasize that such access is required by law, according to the US State Department. Furthermore, the report states that several Greek government agencies state that certain labor enterprises exclude people with disabilities from work. This includes the Employment Commission, which monitors people with disabilities.
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These tactics are unintentionally pushing people with disabilities into poverty: According to the European Commission’s 2021 Disability Equality Report, unemployment among people with disabilities rose from 8.9% in 2002 to 31.1% in 2018, and is predicted to rise further due to the pandemic.
Greece is working to address the issues of disability and poverty in the country. In 2021, the government launched the Child Guarantee Programme in partnership with UNICEF, which aims to help children with disabilities receive the quality social services they need. Together for Children, a network of various aid organisations, also provided assistance to children with intellectual disabilities.
The initiative has reached out to more than 2,000 families to support young people. The Upraise Disability project has also helped many people with disabilities in terms of online access. The project has helped around 17 million people get the help they need through online programs, such as access to therapy, during the pandemic.
– Madison McCray
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