2023-09-12 18:07:09
Federal states are required to do their homework
Vienna (OTS) – The recommendations for action from the UN expert committee show that further measures are required before people with and without disabilities in Austria can live together and on equal terms. Some important projects have already been implemented in recent years. “We are on the way, but we are not yet at the finish line. The federal states in particular are called upon to do their homework,” says Bedrana Ribo, member of the Green Party.
There is a need to catch up in the area of the inclusive labor market, for example. The government is currently taking important steps here: young people with a disability under the age of 25 should no longer be automatically declared unfit for work. Instead, they should have access to the services of the AMS. In addition, existing support measures should be expanded to give these young people more time to gain a foothold in the regular labor market. A corresponding draft law was already being assessed.
There is a lot to do in the area of inclusive education. The United Nations is pushing to gradually phase out the separate “special” schools for children with disabilities and finally replace them with inclusive teaching models. This is fully supported by the Green education spokeswoman Sibylle Hamann. “There are currently enormous resources and resources in the special schools “A lot of great expertise,” says Hamann. This needs to be transferred to mainstream schools and inclusive classes. “Under the right conditions and with sufficient resources, inclusive education is an enrichment for all children!”
In order to promote inclusion in Austria, the federal states in particular must take action, because the implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities is also their responsibility. A few years ago, modern adult protection law was passed in Austria, which implements many of the legal requirements of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and is intended to enable people with disabilities to make self-determined decisions. “But the law alone is not enough. Support structures must also be created so that people can make self-determined decisions. And the states are responsible for that,” says Ribo.
The same applies to the area of personal assistance. For many people with disabilities, this support service is a prerequisite for being able to participate independently in social life. While the federal government is responsible for personal assistance at work, responsibility for personal assistance during leisure time lies with the states. There are very different standards here. Personal assistance in this area often does not cover actual needs. In addition, the federal states often only finance precarious employment relationships for assistants.
Despite the responsibility of the states, the federal government is currently funding a pilot project for personal assistance with a total of 100 million euros in order to create uniform framework conditions for personal assistance in all areas of life and to improve the situation for people. This also includes, among other things, employment law protection for assistants. The pilot project is already in the starting blocks in some federal states, but not all federal states have yet agreed to participate.
“Inclusion can only be successful if the federal, state and local governments pull together. I therefore appeal to continue working actively and purposefully towards this goal!” Ribo concluded.
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