Disability policy in Latvia and European Union

1. European Economic and Social Committee European Economic and Social Committee Disability policy in Latvia and European Union JūrmalaSpa Hotel, Latvia 24th May 2007 Meelis Joost Member of Group III of European Economic and Social Committee Foreign relations & European policy 99 rue Belliard - B-1040 Brussels - Tel. +32 (0)2 546 90 11 - Fax +32 (0)2 513 48 93 - Internet http://www.eesc.europa.eu 99 rue Belliard - B-1040 Brussels - Tel. +32 (0)2 546 90 11 - Fax +32 (0)2 513 48 93 - Internet http://www.eesc.europa.eu EN EN

2. Equal opportunities for people with disabilities • Request from Austrian presidency • Calls for disability specific legislation on EU level • Calls for community based services for people with disabilities including disabled children • Calls for combating poverty among people with disabilities • Calls for better e-inclusion • Calls for exchange of best practices as use of Agenda 22 method • Calls for more and stable support by member states for the disability movement

3. Harmonised indicators in the field of disability • Request from forthcoming Portuguese presidency • Adresses briefly the different definitions of disability across EU and across sectors • Adresses data collection questions – reliable data to fit in with indicators measuring inclusion of people with disabilities • Adresses the identified indicators – as a result of studies implemented a set of indicators could be agreed upon to measure progress • Adresses the UN convention articles which are the most useful tool for securing equal opportunities for people with disabilites

4. Definition on disability • UN convention definition • Persons with disabilities include those who have long term physical, mental, intellectual or sensory impairments which in interaction with various barriers may hinder thier full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others.Request from forthcoming Portuguese presidency • Definitions on disability – for the different measures and pieces of legislation, different definition is to be used • Rights approach – throughout EU by influencing policies • All measures where money is involved – currently very difficult

5. Problems identified in connection with the task • ISTAT study, 2001, provides a list of indicators • EUROSTAT – includes questions about health and disability into surveys as there is no legal basis to ask the member states specific questions • The Statistics on Income and Living Conditions (SILC) includes a question on disability, and the Labour Force Survey has focused in 2002 on disability. Eurostat published a booklet on “Disability and Social Participation in Europe” in 2001. • International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) from the World Health Organisation, linkes the EU to the World, therefore new efforts are nescesary • Disability Measurement Project currently implemented by EUROSTAT • Concil decision for gathering of health and safety data will create a basis for gathering data on disability

6. EPIK – what is it? • 47 organisations • with more than 30000 members • representing all types of disabilities • 31 disability specific NGO-s • 16 regional umbrella organisations • Working with disability politics – covering all aspects of society • Promoting general conditions for people with disabilities • Promoting mainstreaming of disability, work with municipalities • Monitoring implementation of national social inclusion and emlpyment policies • Addressing the need for broad consensus within the disability movement

10. Estonian Agrenska Foundation – a future for children with disabilities • Founders

11. Tammistu

17. Main building of the Tammistu complex

27. www.eesc.europa.eu www.epikoda.ee www.agrenska.ee www.agrenska.se Paldies!