An estimated 10-15% of EU residents are disabled, and this figure is rising.
The International Day of Persons with Disabilities, observed on 3 December, aims to raise awareness of disability and the needs of disabled people.
According to Info-Handicap and the Independent Luxembourg Trade Union Confederation (OGBL), there is still room for improvement when it comes to inclusion in schools and the workplace, as well as accessibility in everyday life.
According to Info-Handicap, the integration of disabled people starts in schools. Yannick Breuer from the charity explains that while an increasing number of disabled children are enrolled in traditional schools, the situation on the ground is often not ideal.
According to Breuer, one of the main issues remains that school staff is often not adequately trained. This leads to anxiety and teachers worrying about how to deal with disabled children in their classroom, Breuer says.
But challenges persist in professional life as well. 20% of people registered with the National Employment Agency (ADEM) have the status of a disabled employee, which indicates that people with disabilities are at a disadvantage when it comes to finding a job and being hired.
This is also related to the fact that many businesses do not adhere to the mandatory disability quota.
Joël Delvaux from the Department of Disabled Workers at the OGBL explains that one of the reasons for this could be that many employers are unsure about which jobs they can hire disabled people for.
A lot of businesses are also not aware of the resources that are available to them, according to Delvaux. “And then, of course, there are many businesses that don’t realise that besides production and sale, they also have a certain social responsibility,” the OGBL member adds.
To improve the situation, Delvaux suggests educating and supporting companies, but also tightening checks on whether or not businesses comply with the legal quota and hire a minimum number of disabled people.
As for accessibility in general, Info-Handicap states that “a lot has been achieved already.”
However, there is still room for improvement in areas such as public transportation, web design, and media content, according to the national disability information and meeting centre.
