Argentinian Newspaper Requests Equal Treatment for Disabled Persons

Everyday three million Argentines with disabilities perceive how their situation worsens because of the negligence of our institutions. According to Foro-Pro, an organization composed of more than 500 associations for the defense of the human rights of persons with disabilities, 90% of the short and medium distance public transportation, and 100% of the long distance public transportation in Argentina is not accessible for persons with disabilities.

Our national authorities do not comply with the approved public employment law that requires filling 4% of government jobs by hiring workers with disabilities. At present, they have only reached the level of 1%. On the other hand, 90% of persons with disabilities are not employed and, of the three million, half live in poverty.

This x-ray is accompanied by many pending assignments that institutions must undertake as priorities. If they acted accordingly, they would do more than restore their so damaged credibility. Somebody has to assume responsibility, authorities just cannot continue hiding. They should be correcting and compensating for unequal and unfair treatment. Persons with disabilities expect political authorities to change present situations that are causing so much hardship. Here the problems of disability are worsened by social disturbances.

There needs to be gradual improvement to the accessibility of all the public transportation system. And not just there, we need more hiring of workers with disabilities and better health and education for all. There is the greatest problem, the greatest injustice: the way in which persons with disabilities are treated. That is the real indicator, that is where changes need to begin and produce a general attitude of inclusion.

 printer-friendly format