Turkey’s Disabled Association (TSD) has demanded on December 3, the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, reduction of the requirement of the 40 percent disability border for the disabled to make use of their rights in the areas of employment, tax reduction and retirement.

Reminding that the “minimum disabled border” is not determined according to the new international standards, the association said the new standard was 10 to 15 degrees lower than the old standard of 40 percent and because of this many disabled were unable to use their rights in the areas of employment, tax reduction, retirement, disability payment and education.

“The border should be reduced to 30 percent”

The TSD wants to have the border for disability to be lowered to 30 percent. They also want the reports received from the authorized hospitals to be the only required documents.

Moreover, the association wants to put an end to the arbitrary practice of lowering the disability degrees at least 10 percent in the health reports in order to prevent the disabled to take advantage of the tax reductions. 

“Remove the contribution rate in the field of health”

The association says that the arrangement of the Social Securities and the General Social Security (SSGSS) makes it difficult for the disabled to have access to the necessary health treatments. They want the removal of the contribution rate taken in the procedures concerning access to treatment, medicine and medical equipment.

The TSD also says that state’s share in covering the costs of the medicine and the medical equipments have been lowered and this has forced the disabled to get lower quality products, especially in hearing equipment and prostheses. They want an increase in government’s share.

“Ratify the international agreement”

Demanding that the monthly payment of 75 euro to the disabled is increased, the problems related to the transportation and receiving services are fixed and the necessary arrangements are made, the TSD wants from the Parliament to ratify the UN  Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and its Optional Protocol as soon as possible.

Turkey signed this convention on March 30, 2007, but has not ratified yet. Therefore it has not become effective in the domestic laws. The convention has been ratified by 41 ountries so far. (TK/TB)