Disability and poverty can affect many areas around the world. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), at least 1.3 billion people have disabilities worldwide. Unfortunately, many people with disabilities often suffer from poverty as well. The combination of these two forces is a plight a lot harsher than many think. Disability and poverty in Greece is a struggle, but work is being done to address the challenges. 

The Link Between Disability and Poverty in Greece

The country has particular issues with access when it comes to disability and poverty in Greece. According to a policy brief done by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in 2021, people with disabilities deal with problems in getting the appropriate health care they need. The report cites how people have to resort to private health care because of the lack of public health care. Private health care is generally more expensive and is an option that impoverished people likely do not have.

Greece also has issues with children who have disabilities. Children who have what is described as physical disabilities often do not have the correct equipment to support them in classrooms. The education system in Greece also lacks sufficient personnel to help children who have physical and mental disabilities.

The theme of access for people with disabilities appears to extend to various areas in Greece. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the National Confederation of Disabled People Greece reported in 2020 that there was a lack of assistance provided to physically disabled individuals who were confined to their homes during the crisis.

In Greece, the majority of people with disabilities face challenges due to inadequate access to physical buildings. This encompasses a lack of access to buildings, transportation and mainstream areas. It’s crucial to highlight that, according to the U.S. Department of State, such access is mandated by law. Further, according to the report, some governmental agencies within Greece stated that certain work companies excluded people who have disabilities from jobs. This includes hiring boards looking over people who have disabilities.

Actions to Help

Tactics like these are what inadvertently cause people with disabilities to fall into instances of poverty. The disability unemployment rate rose to 31.1% in 2018 from 8.9% in 2002, with predictions of the pandemic to increase the number, according to the European Commission report on disability equality in 2021.

Greece is working to solve the issue of disability and poverty in the country. In 2021, the government launched the Child Guarantee Program in partnership with UNICEF. The program is designed to support children who have disabilities in getting the quality social services they need. Together for Children, a network of different aid organizations, also provided aid for those with intellectual disabilities.

The initiative has contacted more than 2000 families to help these young people. The Upraise Disability project also helped many people with disabilities in terms of online access. The project helped around 17 people get the assistance they needed through online programs, including things like access to their therapy, among other things, during the pandemic.

– Madison McCray
Photo: Flickr