The Disability Policy think tank of SYRIZA-PS, which, as the party’s press release states, is staffed by active members of the disability movement, was announced today.

Specifically, the Disability Policy think tank consists of Nikos Kapiris, Christos Maltezos, Agapi Dimopoulou, Aglaia Papazoi and Areti Bata.

Here are brief biographies:

Nikos Kapiris: Studied dance. Dancer and then dance teacher. In 2011 he switched to aerial acrobatics and in 2015 during a stunt he fell from a great height breaking 2 vertebrae. The result, paraplegia. Since then he has been using a wheelchair learning how difficult it is to be a wheelchair user in Greece. In 2019, he joined the disability movement as a member of the Board of Directors. of PASYKPA (nationwide association of paraplegics & physically disabled) trying to improve the living of the physically disabled in Greece as well as to change the world’s perception of disability.

Christos Maltezos: Undergraduate studies in Psychology. In 2021 he is completing a Masters in Global and Comparative Disability Law and Policy from the National University of Ireland, Galway. Also a Master’s program in Psychological Science with a focus on Social Psychology and also another Master’s program in Social Policy with a focus on Disability Studies. She has been working in the disability field in “frontline” roles since 2001.

Agapi Dimopoulou: Deaf from birth. Graduated from the Psychology Department of the Athens School of Philosophy. Bank Clerk at National Bank (1994-2022) and holder of a degree specializing in Computer Programming. She was a trade unionist for a number of years in the Federation of the Deaf of Greece and is now actively involved with the Association of Greek Sign Language Teachers (SDIDENG). He coordinated with complete success on behalf of the SDIDEN the project “National Anthem in ENG”, in the context of the 200 years since the Greek Revolution. With many years of experience in the teaching of Greek Sign Language (ENG), he was involved in the organization of ENG proficiency exams, ENG teaching, the organization of training seminars for ENG. In recent years, she has been working as an ENG instructor at the ENG school of the National Foundation of the Deaf. At the same time, he is working on the writing of the Analytical Teaching Program in Sign Language at all levels.

Aglaia Papazoi: Studied at the Economics Department of the University of Piraeus. He worked at the Piraeus Port Authority. He worked at the TEI of Epirus in Arta as an administrative employee. Founding member and secretary of the Board of Directors of the Association of People with Multiple Sclerosis in Plaka prefecture of Thesprotia. Founding member and secretary of the Continental Society for the Culture of Arts and Sciences (H.E.P.O.T.E.) in Arta.

Areti Bata: Mother of the autistic Elias, combative lawyer and active activist in the field of disability. Specialized legal advisor in disability and family law matters, she represents and supports people with disabilities, their families and vulnerable social groups. Strongly active in the disabled parents’ movement, she participates in associations of parents of special schools in Thessaloniki and is vice-president of the Women’s Lawyers’ Union of Greece.