Taxes lift barriers for disabled
European cities are allocating a portion of tax payers’ money to ensure people with disabilities are able to contribute to society on an equal basis with others.
To promote equality of opportunity and accessibility for people with disabilities, Member States are working towards a barrier-free Europe.
The EU’s Charter of Fundamental Rights prohibits discrimination on the ground of disability and recognises the right of people with disabilities to benefit from measures to ensure their independence, social and occupational integration and participation in the life of the community.
All the EU Member States have adopted measures to ensure disabled people are not excluded from using basic products and services which are often taken for granted by those living without any limitations. This includes the ability to enter a building such as a school and using public transport to withdrawing money from an ATM.
The European Accessibility Act sets common minimum accessibility requirements for certain products and services to help disabled persons participate in society.
Cities leading the way
Stockholm, in Sweden, is a prime example of a city significantly improving accessibility for disabled persons. Hundreds of bus stops for instance, have been modified to facilitate boarding. The city also converted thousands of pedestrian crossings to include a ticking sound when traffic lights turn green, contrast markings and ramps to allow wheelchairs easy access to walkways.
In the Netherlands, the city of Breda, the winner of the 2019 Access City Award, implemented a four-year plan from 2018-2021, to make accessibility the norm in the city. Hundreds of shops and bars have been checked for accessibility and the city has also worked towards ensuring their websites are accessible to all. As for transport, everyone is able to access bus stops and the new railway station.
Another example of a city implementing initiatives to ensure accessibility for people with disabilities, is the city of Gdynia in Poland. In 2013, city officials adopted accessibility standards which entail guideless for designing public spaces to meet the needs of persons with disabilities.
The city also created new development paths for children and adults with intellectual disabilities such as theatre workshops.
How taxes enable the rights of disabled
Taxes pay for many public services that support people with disabilities. Taxes help pay for public hospitals, schools and public transportation –to make and maintain them accessible to all Europeans.
The TAXEDU digital portal is helping to increase awareness of the importance of paying taxes. Students can learn more about the productive power of taxes by watching the portal’s micro-clips, “Do I benefit from taxes?” and “What is income and how is it taxed?” Teachers and students can also find out more about taxes on the on the portal’s Training Catalogue and News and Events page.
Through the TAXEDU portal, students all over Europe are learning about the positive real-world impact paying taxes can have – especially for people living with disabilities.