International Day Against Poverty:
What about people with intellectual disabilities?

There are many poor people in Europe. The European Union wants to help 20 million poor people in next 9 years. People with intellectual disabilities have often higher chance to become poor than other people. That is why the European Union should remember people with intellectual disabilities when helping the poor. For example, it should make sure that people with intellectual disabilities can get a job like anyone else.

In Europe, millions of citizens experience conditions of poverty, which prevent them from having decent standards of living. The recent economic crisis came to worsen this situation, not only because it made it harder for people to find a job, but also because of the measures that governments in Europe take to face the crisis. These measures have mostly to do with crucial financial cuts which directly influence the lives of European citizens. Under these circumstances, the first who see the impact of such measures in their everyday lives are vulnerable categories of citizens, such as people with intellectual disabilities.

The International Day of fight against poverty, celebrated today, is an opportunity to remind the governments of their duty to protect their citizens’ rights, including of those most vulnerable. This year's International Day of fight against poverty coincides with the first Annual Convention of the European Platform against Poverty and Social Exclusion. Organised in Krakow by the European Commission with the Polish Presidency, on 17-18 October, the Convention will review the progress made in reducing poverty and social exclusion by at least 20 million by 2020. It will also review the implementation of the European Platform against poverty and suggest recommendations for the future.

People with intellectual disabilities should in no way be left outside of the dialogue against poverty. Except for a cause of loss of dignity and quality of life, poverty is also a factor leading to increased vulnerability and social exclusion for people with intellectual disabilities. As it is described in Inclusion Europe’s report on "Poverty and Intellectual Disability in Europe": “Poverty and disability reinforce each other… Not only does disability exacerbate poverty by increasing isolation and economic strain for the individual, but it also affects the family and relations of the person with the disability”.

In these terms, Inclusion Europe calls on the European governments to take people with intellectual disabilities into consideration when they decide measures to face the economic crisis. They should also take over specific responsibility to address the link between intellectual disability, poverty and social exclusion in their policies in order to ensure that this vulnerable group of European citizens can be actively included in all aspects of society.

In addition, European governments should design benefit schemes that compensate adequately for the extra cost of disability. The European Union, on the other hand, should study and compare the level of these compensations in the Member States and develop actions to harmonise the compensation systems in the Member States.

Of course, poverty among people with intellectual disabilities is not an issue to be addressed alone. It’s inextricably related to employment opportunities and education of people with intellectual disabilities. In other words, investing in today’s education for people with disabilities will equip them with the knowledge and the skills to claim a job tomorrow, like everyone else. Likewise, an inclusive society which “embraces” people with intellectual disabilities offering them equal employment opportunities is a strong weapon in the fight against poverty.

European Platform against poverty and social exclusion

The European Platform against poverty and social exclusion is an initiative of European Commission bringing  together EU memeber states, EU institutions and key stakeholders against poverty and exclusion. It is focusing on actions to reach the EU target of reducing poverty and social exclusion by at least 20 million by 2020. Launched in 2010, the Platform is part of the Europe 2020 strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth.

Although national governments are mainly responsible for combatting poverty and social exclusion, the EU can assist by identifying best practices and promoting mutual learning, setting up EU-wide rules and making funding available.

More information about the Platform is provided here.