At a themed event “Disability and the European perspective” which was organized by the Secretariat of Persons with Disabilities, at the central electoral booth of the ND in Syntagma Square, the Minister of Social Cohesion and Family spoke on Sunday afternoon Sophia Zaharaki.

Mrs. Zaharaki pointed out, among other things, that the Mitsotakis government reduced the absolute equality of people with disabilities to a top priority public policy.

The National Action Plan 2020-2023 after dialogue and close cooperation with the disability movement, the National Confederation of Persons with Disabilities evolved into a National Strategy 2024-2030 which was recently presented to the Council of Ministers.

“This is the country’s road map in order to give disabled people their rights as citizens” noted Mrs. Zaharaki, pointing out that in this field even greater convergence is needed with the EU countries where the policies and the culture of the societies , remove and do not add barriers to the lives of people with disabilities.

Mrs. Zaharaki referred in particular to the wide range of programs implemented by the Ministry of Social Cohesion and Family to ensure the practical equality of people with disabilities. Programs financed equally by national and European funds.

Only from the Recovery Fund an amount of 140 million euros it is directed to the programs implemented by the Ministry of Social Cohesion and Family and concern people with disabilities.

The Minister of Social Cohesion and Family stated:

  • In the Personal Assistant pilot program. So far, 1,045 agreements have been concluded between beneficiaries and Personal Assistants and 817 beneficiaries have a Personal Assistant. By 2025, more than 1,800 beneficiaries are expected to have acquired their own personal assistant.
  • Social and professional integration program for 200 people on the autism spectrum. It provides for the provision of advisory support by mediators (mentors) and a subsidy for salary costs and employer contributions.
  • Early intervention program for the individualized provision of services to children with disabilities, developmental delays or disorders or at increased risk of developing them. The goal by the end of 2025 is for 1,635 children to join the program who will be selected through an invitation.
  • Program of functional accessibility renovations in homes and business spaces for people with disabilities.

National Disability Benefits Portal

The next, major reform combined with the Disability Card – implemented in our country before it was even adopted by the EU – is the operation of the National Disability Benefits Portal.

As the minister mentioned, all people with disabilities, families and caregivers will have the possibility to individually see all the benefits they are entitled to, issue certificates and be served by a one stop shop service for all benefits without submitting supporting documents.

Finally, the minister noted that through OPECA, the benefits policy was also strengthened with an increase in disability benefits by 8% from May 1, 2023.

The total amount paid in April to 199,015 people with disabilities was 81,157,197 euros.

“The European elections are an exercise in political stability in order for the ND government to continue promoting the interest and dignity of our vulnerable fellow citizens and people with disabilities. That is where we direct the growth dividend and that is what we will continue to do,” said Mrs. Zaharaki.