Politics has done too little for disabled people over the past twenty years, which is why these people still face the same problems. This was concluded by part of the House of Representatives on Thursday evening in a debate on disability policy. Issues such as staff shortages, discrimination of disabled people in public life and bureaucracy were already an issue at the time, and this frustrates many MPs.
SP MP Peter Kwint also sees that the problems have become “bigger rather than smaller”. In addition to the problems of the past, according to him, disability care now also has to deal with institutions that are in danger of going bankrupt. That would have been “unthinkable” when Kwint still worked in care for the disabled, about twenty years ago. He also addresses the current problem of “hundreds of millions disappearing into the pockets of employment agencies”, in order to make up for staff shortages with self-employed people.
During the debate, Lucille Werner (CDA) stated that the conclusion of a report by the Social Cultural Planning Office twenty years ago is the same as that of the most recently published report, namely that people with disabilities participate less in public life.
She said that she also felt this as an expert by experience, and therefore made an urgent call in her last debate on this theme to the cabinet to take concrete steps to ensure that people with disabilities can participate fully in society.
Different ideas
In his argument, VVD MP Harry Bevers even went back thirty years to the time when he worked as a social worker, and said that at that time efforts were made to pay more attention to the potential of people with a mild intellectual disability, this group now has more than two million people. The fact that he sees “much of that time” reflected “in today’s plans” makes him feel “a certain discomfort.”
The debate put forward several ideas to improve the lives of disabled people. From speech computers and the abolition of complicated regulations, to the use of specialized confidential counselors and a ban on hiring self-employed people.
According to Kees van der Staaij (CU), policy is particularly needed that is not only aimed at making progress, but also focuses on maintaining progress. He sees in the debates on this theme that “thresholds that previously disappeared simply return over time.”