Rehab Group Study Visit to the European Parliament

Rehab Group Study Visit to the European Parliament

On 10 December, Rehab Group organised a study visit to the European Parliament, aiming to highlight the importance of amplifying the voices of people with disabilities across Europe. The visit included a Round Table on ‘Unlocking Potential: EU Strategies for the Employment of People with Disabilities‘, chaired by Member of the European Parliament (MEP) Aodhán Ó Riordáin. It brought together MEPs from different political groups, a representative of the European Commission and various leading voices from civil society organisations, such as the European Disability Forum (EDF), to tackle the issue of persistently high unemployment rates of persons with disabilities.

Bringing in the most important viewpoint were the persons with disabilities coming from Ireland, who shared their lived experiences on the challenges of seeking and retaining employment, including:

• Losing social benefits when entering employment;
• Lack of safety nets if choices about employment change;
• Societal barriers to obtaining, sustaining and retaining work;
• Lack of employers’ understanding of their needs and stigmatizing mindsets;
• Accessibility issues with public transport, making it difficult to reach work and be part of community life.

As noted during the event: “With the right support, people with disabilities can thrive in their jobs“. 

Rehab Group involved EPR in its capacity as a European network, inviting us to present our work on advancing employment of people with disabilities and recommendations for the European Strategy for the rights of persons with disabilities.

As evident by the large number of MEPs that attended the Round Table, closing the employment gap for people with disabilities is an important political concern, and needs to be addressed by involving all relevant stakeholders.