Government says it did not turn its back on those with disabilities

The government on Monday was on the defensive over allegations it had abandoned people with disabilities. In a statement, the deputy social welfare office said contrary to media reports, it had actually taken “leaps of improvement” to better the lives of people with disabilities.

A day earlier, Haravgi newspaper published an article titled ‘people with disabilities trapped in poverty’ to which the government sought to publish its own statement to “set the record straight.”

Over the past decade, the annual funds to help disabled persons have increased from €28 million to €45m. The number of beneficiaries has also more than doubled from 7,000 to 15,000 for the period 2013 – 2022, the government said.

Haravgi’s article on the contrary reported that in the past year alone, people with disabilities have faced cuts to their benefits.

The confederation of disabled persons (Kysoa) was quoted in the article as saying benefits have been abruptly cut without any prior notification. “Telephone lines have been sealed shut and people have no way to contact anyone about this.”

“As a result, the most vulnerable people spend the holidays in misery and destitution.”

The government said it recognises the legal framework needs to be updated and to this end it has repeatedly invited members of Kysoa to meetings multiple times for them to submit their view.

It added there were three new social benefits available. From 2015, the benefits for patients on blood dialysis with 700 beneficiaries, while since 2018, there have been 500 new beneficiaries for the benefits for people with thalassemia that had transfusions.

In 2019, the government rolled out benefits for blind people that are unable to work, that helped 1,700 beneficiaries.

Additionally, since 2019, benefits for quadriplegics and paraplegics increased by 30 per cent, with funds going up to €4m for more than 6,000 beneficiaries.

“For the first time, a national strategy for disability for the period 2018 – 2028 was set up and three-year action plans to implement them.”

Responding to Haravgi’s article that committees which evaluated disabilities were exceedingly harsh and rude, the government said there is a growing network of evaluation centres – with one in Nicosia, Limassol and Larnaca.

It added there was €3.9m for the new evaluation system, included in €10.5m in funds from the Cyprus-Tomorrow plan.

On the topic of mental health, the government said it had taken steps to help people with mental disabilities and autism avoid institutionalisation and social exclusion. To this end, nine residences have been created and three programs offering support systems, with €2.8m in funds.

“The project is being extended with another five residences and more support programs for the period of 2021 – 2027, amounting to €20m, from the European Social Fund and €2.4m from the Recovery and Resilience program.”

In 2021, the Aktida support centre for children with autism and their families was created, with €30m in funds going towards more social services – personal helpers, counsellors, and trainers.

In October last year, the cabinet approved the creation of a national autism committee.

The deputy ministry concluded that “based on the above, it is clear that in the last decade there have been leaps of improvement in many areas for the lives of people with disabilities”.

Consequently, the ministry “categorically rejects nihilistic reports” and calls on those concerned to contribute constructively, with the aim of addressing the problems of all people with disabilities.