Wheelchair Accessibility in Europe
Is Europe on a Roll?
Wheelchair Accessibility Violations In recent years, Europe has begun to end the suffrage of disabled people in the continent and has initiated laws and mandates creating equality between able and disabled people. However, Western Europe is incredibly more advanced in the equalizing process than Eastern Europe. Countries in East Europe are lacking in a multitude of handicap accessible areas, whereas their Western counterparts are all technologically advanced and have admirably accommodated people with disabilities. The huge push for equality was mostly brought about by the fact that a large majority of the income of most countries is based on tourism. Since people with disabilities make up a sizable percentage of the population, it was economically the best option for the European nations to go with. The European Council seriously began its push for equality back in 1997 with the Treaty of Amsterdam which started the process. They are still only in the beginning stages of their plan for total equality, but they are finally making an effort.
Equality between disabled and able-bodied people throughout history has always been a serious issue in society. Disabled people have been cast out and deemed unworthy of being first class citizens for the majority of time. Only until more recent events did society see a shift in the social standing of disabled people. In the article, “Council of Europe Actions to Improve Quality of Life” the authors, Thorsten Afflerbach and Angela Garabagiu, review the history of the Council of Europe and what it has done to support human rights for people with disabilities in Europe. The authors list the Disability Action Plan (in effect 2006-2015) and interpret the each of the fifteen points highlighted by aforementioned plan. Some of the key points are: participation in political and public life, participation in cultural life, information and communication, education, employment, vocational guidance and training,
Wheelchair Accessibility Violations In recent years, Europe has begun to end the suffrage of disabled people in the continent and has initiated laws and mandates creating equality between able and disabled people. However, Western Europe is incredibly more advanced in the equalizing process than Eastern Europe. Countries in East Europe are lacking in a multitude of handicap accessible areas, whereas their Western counterparts are all technologically advanced and have admirably accommodated people with disabilities. The huge push for equality was mostly brought about by the fact that a large majority of the income of most countries is based on tourism. Since people with disabilities make up a sizable percentage of the population, it was economically the best option for the European nations to go with. The European Council seriously began its push for equality back in 1997 with the Treaty of Amsterdam which started the process. They are still only in the beginning stages of their plan for total equality, but they are finally making an effort.
Equality between disabled and able-bodied people throughout history has always been a serious issue in society. Disabled people have been cast out and deemed unworthy of being first class citizens for the majority of time. Only until more recent events did society see a shift in the social standing of disabled people. In the article, “Council of Europe Actions to Improve Quality of Life” the authors, Thorsten Afflerbach and Angela Garabagiu, review the history of the Council of Europe and what it has done to support human rights for people with disabilities in Europe. The authors list the Disability Action Plan (in effect 2006-2015) and interpret the each of the fifteen points highlighted by aforementioned plan. Some of the key points are: participation in political and public life, participation in cultural life, information and communication, education, employment, vocational guidance and training,