Ableism is the discrimination against persons with disabilities based on their physical and mental disabilities. Ableism often goes hand in hand with social prejudice against people with disabilities and the feeling of superiority by non-disabled people.
But people with disabilities have the right to a life in dignity and income support that ensures dignified living, services that enable them to participate in the labour market and in society, and a work environment adapted to their needs.
As part of this objective, we Greens have been fighting relentlessly to protect the most vulnerable ones on EU level, especially in the context of work: for instance, trainees need proper working conditions, persons with disabilities access to employment. Finally, a Directive on Minimum Income would ensure that everyone has enough for a life in dignity, even those that cannot participate in the labour market.
Not everyone is able to work, the reasons could go from illness, to disability, to family situations. That does not mean that those people should live in poverty or be forced to accept precarious jobs. A minimum income set above the poverty line not only is a safety net for them but also for our societies.
With the EU disability card, the Greens have been calling for the recognition of an EU disability status and free movement, assistance and advantages for people with disabilities working and travelling in Europe.
Keywords: disabilities, discrimination, vulnerable, ableism, dignity