Topic “Opportunities
and limitations each person with disabilities has in his/her life”
Partner No10. Jaunuoliu dienos
centras, Lithuania (presentation)
Do all mentally disabled youngsters have
occupation center or job place?
Is it allowed to have boyfriend/girlfriend if you are mentally disabled?
Is art made by disabled important and interesting to other people?
Does grown up mentally disabled want and can live separately form family?
Way most of people acting with me like with child, I am adult, just my
mind working differently!!!
Way art, creativity and culture important for me?
Partner Nr.6. Baunataler Diakonie
Kassel e. V., Germany
Why, to your opinion, do people with and without disability still work
and live in separate groups?
Do all people with disability have work and are they sufficiently paid
for their work?
Do people with disability have a choice of autonomous decision-making
where to live or work?
Can people with disability afford to rent an apartment?
Are people with disability allowed to start a family and how are they
supported in implementing their intentions?
Partner Nr. 19. The Derry
Playhouse, United Kingdom
Does everyone have the right to get married / have a relationship?
Do learning disabled people in other counties receive welfare benefits?
Should learning disabled people be able to have control of their own
money?
If I apply for a job will the employer know I am disabled?
If I get into trouble (the person was referring to an incident such as
bullying on the street), who will look after me / defend me?
Partner Nr. 7. People First e.
V., Germany
People who want to shift into supported accommodation (in German this is
called "Betreutes Einzelwohnen, BET") often have trouble finding a
flat to move into.
Question: Do you ever have trouble finding this sort of accommodation?
Are owners always prepared to rent you a flat?
People who live in an institutional setting - either in a larger
institution or in a group home - sometimes don't get more support than for
their physical needs (a room and a bed, meals) and are not always able to get
support for other things, like having relationships, finding a job, leisure
activities, learning things, even though these things are officially paid for
by the social welfare office. Communication support is a real problem in
residential settings.
Question: Do you have problems like this?
In Germany, the laws on legal guardianship are very rigid. They do not
comply with the Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities. There is
no option for "assisted decision-making", even though the guardians
are supposed to try and identify the person's wishes. The rule here is
"substituted decision-making".
Question: Is this a problem for you in any way? What are the laws about
legal guardianship in your country?
In Germany, a person who has what is called "plenary
guardianship" (in German, "eine rechtliche Betreuung in allen
Angelegenheiten") is deprived of his or her right to vote in elections.
Question: Does this sort of law exist in your country?
In Germany, people who have a legal guardian can under certain
circumstances be forced to take medication against their will or even to be
sterilized against their will.
Question: does this happen at all in your country?
People like us in Germany who need a lot of assistance and support don't
get any money to pay for it, if for instance they want to take part in meetings
or join a self-advocate organization. Assistance for self-care and work is paid
for, but not for self-advocacy.
Question: What is the situation in your country?
Social welfare laws in Germany make you use up all your own money before
you are given any state assistance, except for an amount up to €2600,00. This
is called "means testing". It means that people who need state
support because of their disability stay poor.
Question: Does this happen in your country?
Douglas and I have been part of the steering committee of the
"brk-Allianz" in Germany, the group of 78 organizations and charities
which prepared the states parties parallel report on the Convention on the
Rights of People with Disabilities in Germany. You can find our report in
English on www.brk-allianz.de
Question: Have you been able to take part in writing reports like this in
your country?
Partner Nr. 14. United in
Diversity, Serbia
Do you think that all persons have equal right to love?
Do you find it difficult to express your feelings to other persons
(someone else)?
Do intellectual disabled persons should live independently, without their
parents?
Do you think that grownup intellectual disabled persons should be treated
like adults, not like a child?
Do intellectual disabled persons can organize their leisure time by
themselves, without someone others help?
Are needs for intimacy same for all people?
Do intellectual disabled persons should start their own family?
Do intellectual disabled persons should have boyfriend/girlfriend?
Do intellectual disabled persons have need to be realized like
mother/father?