Representatives of the Romanian Society for Medical Rehabilitation join European specialists in sending the message that a paradigm shift is needed regarding disability and point out that this is not only a medical problem, but a human rights one.
"Disability is not an individual tragedy, but an indicator of society's capacity to include or exclude", declared Madalina Iliescu, president of the Romanian Society for Medical Rehabilitation (SRRM), on the occasion of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, quoted in a press release.
According to SRRM, in Romania, urban accessibility, but especially rural accessibility, remains insufficient, modern rehabilitation services are uneven across the country, technology for people with disabilities is difficult to access and the employment rate is extremely low.
The Romanian Society for Medical Rehabilitation emphasizes the importance of direct collaboration with people with disabilities: they are not just beneficiaries of rehabilitation policies and services, but truly competent partners in identifying barriers and finding solutions. Romania must move from charitable approaches to rights-based public policies, SRRM reports.
"Inclusion costs less than exclusion. Investing in accessibility and participation reduces social and economic costs in the long term", stated Madalina Iliescu.
According to SRRM representatives, rehabilitation and empowerment are the essential pillars of this approach, with rehabilitation focusing on restoring functioning after illness or accident, while empowerment aims to develop new skills and competences that allow active participation and independent living.
"The paradigm shift means recognizing that disability is not a defect, but a situation created by society when it does not ensure accessibility and equal opportunities," said Mauro Zampolini, president of the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation section of the European Union of Medical Specialists and Aydan Oral, chair of the Board, according to the cited source.
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