The impact of the ongoing economic crisis on the lives of people with SCI in Europe Lucignano 23 – 25 May 2012 THE ECONOMIC CRISIS, WELFARE AND GLOBALISATION Donata Vivanti Vice Chair EDF

Summary Who we are Our mission The EU context: opportunities and challenges The impact of the economic crisis and of austerity measures on people with disabilities in the EU The EDF Observatory on the crisis The way forward

WHO WE ARE Umbrella organisation full members from 30 European countries 43 European organisations from all main disabilities and chronic illnesses Leaded by persons with disabilities & parents representing persons with disabilities and intense support needs

Facts and figures on disability in the EU People with disabilities = 80 million people in the European Union (more than 15% of the population) one in four Europeans has a family member with a disability people with reduced mobility represent more than 40% of the population

Facts and figures on disability in the EU People with disabilities: two - three times more unemployed than non-disabled people the more severe the degree of disability, the lower the participation in the labour force (20% of people with severe disabilities have a job) > 50% less likely to reach third level education 38% aged have earned income, compared to 64% of non-disabled people Income dramatically lower

EU context: the opportunities Social inclusion one of the three pillars of the European Union “Europe 2020” strategy The ratification of the UNCRPD calls for: –a rights-based approach to disability –the implementation of the rights of persons with disabilities –inclusiveness of society

EU context: the challenges Demographic changes New segments of the population have become vulnerable: – Rising number of persons with disabilities, especially with intense support needs Economic downturn: – persons with disabilities facing worsening living conditions

Impact of the economic crisis in the EU > 5 million people have lost their jobs 10% increase unemployment rates of some EU countries 80 million people in Europe exposed to the risk of poverty the Europe 2020 targets will BE impossible to achieve without the contribution of EU citizens with disabilities (16% of the EU population)

Impact of the economic crisis on persons with disabilties Persons with disabilities: –more likely than others to suffer from the effects of the crisis: (unemployment, poverty) –objects of negative attitudes: perceived as generators of costs rather than as equal citizens –cuts to social policy budgets Contradictory approach of the EC –Wishes the EU to be a model of inclusiveness –Recommends austerity measures –Has not taken concrete actions to protect persons with disabilities from the impact of the crisis

Effects of austerity measures on persons with disabilities Budget cuts to social policies have exacerbated the marginalization of an increasing number of persons with disabilities (Yannis Vardakastanis President European Disability Forum)

Impact of austerity measures on persons with disabilities Budget cuts to social policies hinder persons with disabilities rights to leave independently and participate in society Reducing quantity and quality of support and services to persons with disabilities at the moment when they need them most Increasing –Poverty –Illiteracy –Social exclusion –Discrimination

EDF OBSERVATORY OF THE CRISIS 5 questions survey help EDF understand –which the main challenges are –where there are main challenges help reporting to the European Institutions make the EU react to: damage to or regression on the rights of persons with disabilities, negative portrayal of the persons with disabilities

EASPD SURVEY: IMPACT OF THE CRISIS ON SERVICES Long-term disability strategies Annual disability plans and programmes Operational programmes Significant reductions in public budget for social services at local/regional level (up to - 80% 2011 vs. 2010)

EASPD SURVEY: IMPACT OF THE CRISIS

EASPD SURVEY: IMPACT OF THE CRISIS/SECTOR

EASPD SURVEY: IMPACT OF THE AUSTERITY MESASURES ON SERVICES

EU context: the way forward Investing in the value of EU citizens, starting from the most vulnerable ones Recognising Social Justice as the pre-condition of future prosperity Recognising the contribution made by its citizens with disabilities as a labour force, as customers and as rights holders Implementing the UN CRPD by ensuring an adequate standard of living to persons with disabilities; Implementing the EU 2020 strategy including the third pillar social inclusion

EU context: the way forward Developing innovative sustainable services promoting independent living and life in the community for all persons with disabilities supporting persons with disabilities and their families to ensure their participation in society developing and modernising accessible infrastructure, transport, goods and services to increase employment and participation of persons with disabilities undertaking all the necessary initiatives, policies and actions to protect persons with disabilities from new forms of exclusion, poverty and discrimination that the crisis brings about

EU context: the way forward Moving towards universal accessibility and quality of Social Services of General Interest Maximising the impact of the EU funding programmes (ESF, FP7, PROGRESS…): – ensuring the participation of representative DPOs in all phases and level of operational planning and allocation of EU funds – targeting the EU funds: to the implementation of the UNCRPD to the empowerment of persons with disabilities to the development of innovative, inclusive support services

High Level Meeting on Disability The crisis shouldn ’ t Prevent us from advancing in the implementation of the UNCRPD Jos é Manuel Barroso President of the EU Commission