The Regional Federation of Persons with Disabilities West. of Macedonia (POA.me.A.), a member of the National Confederation of Persons with Disabilities ESAmeA, is the Secondary social-union body whose aim is to support its member-holders for issues of disability and chronic illness.
A few words about the Disability Card…….
E.S.A.me.: President I. Vardakastanis: “Card of Dignity” the Disability Card, presentation to the Department of Labor. December 6, 2022
I. Vardakastanis: The implementation of the disability card, which was first proposed by ESAmeA in 1991, is the complete justification of the position of the disability movement that it should have identity features. With the card, it is possible to display the information and characteristics of the owner, while ensuring the protection of sensitive personal data. Thus, we are ending the public use of the disability assessment for over 500,000 people with disabilities and chronic conditions in our country. These characteristics were also ensured as a priority in the study carried out by the Institute of Disabled Persons (IN-Disabled Persons) regarding the design of the disability card. With great joy and justification, the disability card is now the card of dignity for each and every one of us.
The new Digital Disability Card, which was implemented by the Ministry of Labor in collaboration with ESAMeA, was characterized by the president of ESAMeA, Ioannis Vardakastanis, as a “dignity” card, while the study for the card was carried out by the Institute of ESAMeA (IN-ESAMeA ).
The Digital Disability Card: is issued directly, through the National Disability Portal (epan.gov.gr) and no supporting documents are required. And its duration is equivalent to the validity period of the Notification of Disability Certification Decision (GAPA) by KEPA. Its holders must be registered in the digital register of people with disabilities, with a disability rate of 50% or more. It has an electronic format (also stored on the mobile phone in the gov.gr Wallet application) and a physical printable paper format. The disability card is inextricably linked to the Digital Disability Register, in which disabled people are registered. Through the Card, which derives its data from the corresponding digital Register, disabled people can certify their status in order to exercise their respective rights.
The Disability Card that proves the identity of its holder and the status of the person with a disability vis-à-vis any public authority and third party replaces any document or certificate currently in use. . Holders who show it will be served as a priority in public services, using it as a supporting document instead of the disability certification, without being required to share their sensitive personal – and especially medical – data.
Some categories of disability will have the “S” marking on the card that they need a companion, so that their companions enjoy the same benefit.