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People with disabilities
There are around 80 million people
with disability living in Europe. In some member states they
still have difficulties in accessing certain rights and
freedoms, for example in fields such as employment,
education or political life.
Policies for people with disabilities are often focused
exclusively on institutional care, medical rehabilitation
and welfare benefits. More emphasis should be given to the
human rights of persons with disabilities and their
integration within the community.
In 2006 the Council of Europe adopted a Disability Action
Plan which addresses participation in political, public and
cultural life, education, information and communication,
employment, accessibility of the built environment and
transport.
The Internet offers enormous potential for improving the
social inclusion of people with disabilities (online work,
e-democracy, access to knowledge and information). The
Council of Europe pays particular attention to accessibility
and design questions, so that these new technologies offer
equal chances of full and active participation in the life
of the community and do not constitute new sources of social
exclusion.
Podcast
