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Today, more than 10% of the European population, that is at least 50 million people, deal with

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a disability and are confronted with physical barriers. Therefore, for them, taking part

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in life and society is a real challenge. Initiatives favouring accessibility are therefore essential.

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We have in the European Union already a legislation which bans the discrimination of disabled

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people in employment and we think we should go further and extend that discrimination

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ban to the whole of society. In Spain, in partnership with the Federation

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of Associations of Physically Disabled People, authorities from the province of Jaén chose

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the approach Design for All. Accessibility benefits all people. Accessibility,

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when it goes unnoticed, when it is not perceived by people, but nevertheless is enjoyed, benefits

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everyone because it generates quiet spaces, comfortable spaces.

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In Linares, Spain, the city centre has been completely rethought for people with reduced

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mobility, which includes a large group of people with minor disabilities. This includes

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low curbs and access ramps for shops, some of which don't have doors, which makes things

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easier for everyone. Here, all buses are accessible for people in wheelchairs.

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I can go to many places that were not possible before. I needed help, now I don't.

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Now on to Warsaw, Poland, to Ryba Bosa High School. Here, the school's infrastructure

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allows access for disabled pupils. We are in an inclusive school where disabled and

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non-disabled pupils are mixed. This is an example of integration.

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I feel like a full-fledged person. I am not discriminated against in any way and this

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will certainly help me to find my place in society.

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Studies show that disabled children have less rigorous teaching and a lower level of education.

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The success of the school project is in the diversity of pupils. Disabled or non-disabled

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students get to know each other better.

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I think that the existence of schools like ours changes people's mentality, so in the

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future it will be easier to persuade a graduate of my school, who runs a company, to hire

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disabled people, than if he did not study in such a school.

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In the Netherlands, Tom Hessels has a job with social life and feels integrated, but

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still experiences small annoyances. Blind since birth, it used to be impossible for

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him to make bank payments through the internet.

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Money matters are private matters and you prefer to do them without the intervention

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of other people, and that possibility exists now.

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Tom uses a local DigiPass. This DigiPass gives him a code with access to a page which is

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simple and accessible for all. Tom now manages his finances on his own.

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By offering it online, it is actually easy for everyone. And for someone with a disability

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it can mean that it is the access to a certain service.

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These three examples show that everyone can reflect and act, so that disabled people can

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do things that the majority of us take for granted.