Any form of disability, regardless of how severe it is, can have serious effects on the quality of life of individuals. Having a disability is a recognised human right and the struggle for equal rights seeks satisfaction in life and happiness of disabled people.
Moderator
Alexandra Kaimenou, Journalist
Experts
Sofia Kitra, Economist, Head of Public Entity
Paraskevi Bellou, President of "Amymoni" Association
Dr. Panagiotis Siaperas, Academic Manager of the Master's course (MSc) in Rehabilitation of the Metropolitan College and member of the European Network of Occupational Therapy in Higher Education (ENOTHE)
#disability #lifequality #society #rights #solutions #support #humancapital #rehabilitation
Any form of disability, regardless of how severe it is, can have serious effects on the quality of life of individuals. Having a disability is a recognised human right and the struggle for equal rights seeks satisfaction in life and happiness of disabled people. The need for rehabilitation aimed at functionality, independence and well-being of disabled people, regardless of age, level of disability and social context is now considered vital for every society. The contemporary problems of the lives of disabled people call us to make meaningful interventions focused on investing in them, through a supportive and encouraging environment.
- How is disability, as a term, defined by the World Health Organisation?
- What are the modern life challenges that people with disabilities are called to face?
- What does 'quality of life' mean to a disabled person?
- How is rehabilitation defined and how it is applied?
- How can technology and innovative ideas help improve the quality of life of people with disabilities?
- What trends and new ideas do you see in creating a supportive and encouraging environment for people with disabilities?
- Where does the rehabilitation of disabled people aim? Is it just about physical handicap or does it concern other abilities/skills too?
Alexandra Kaimenou was born and grew up in Athens. She studied at Harokopio University in the Department of Geography and at the same time she graduated from ANT1 Media Lab.
She made her first steps in journalism in 2012, making a show dedicated to the Greek community, on ANT1 Satellite Channels.
Since late 2015 she’s worked in the Newscast of ANT1, initially doing freelance reporting and then as an accredited journalist at the Ministry of Labor.
Later, she presented the show "Kalokairi Mazi" on ANT1, in the summer of 2019. In the autumn of the same year and for one season she worked alongside Giorgos Papadakis in the show “Kalimera Ellada”.
Since October 2020, she belongs to the staff of ERT, presenting the daily news program "Syndeseis” together with Costas Papachlimintzos.
Dr Panagiotis Siaperas holds a degree in Occupational Therapy from ATEI in Athens, and a BSc in Psychology from the University of Kent in the UK. He also holds an MSc in Mental Health Studies from the Institute of Psychiatry- King's College, University of London and a PhD from the University of Cambridge, researching Autism Spectrum Disorders and Developmental Coordination Disorder with a scholarship from the Greek state. He is Chartered Psychologist and Associate Fellow of the British Psychological Society and Member of the Royal College of Occupational Therapists of the UK. He has a constant presence in International and Greek scientific conferences either as speaker or as member of a Scientific Committee.
Since 2016 he’s an elected board member of the European Network of Occupational Therapy in Higher Education (ENOTHE http://enothe.eu/ ) and between 2016-2019, he was an elected member of the board of directors of the Municipal Nursery Organization of the Municipality of Athens. In 2019, he established the MSc course in Rehabilitation and the Research Institute of Occupational Science & Rehabilitation of Metropolitan College.
Paraskevi Bellou has been serving as the president of Amymoni since 2020. A mother herself, she sought to create an appropriate educational framework for children with multiple disabilities. Being really inspired, she founded Amymoni, together with other parents who faced the same anxiety and fears about their children's future .
Sofia Kitra was born in 1980 in Athens and at the age of 18 she went to study at the university from where she graduated in 2002. Her first job was in the banking sector. Very soon, at the age of 23, she was diagnosed with a common demyelinating disease, which was later characterised as atypical.
At a time when she was dealing with hospitalizations, doctors and full-time work, she completed her Masters in Economics, having previously given up on dreams of studying abroad. She quickly found herself facing mobility difficulties while at the age of 30, she was using a wheelchair to get around. For 15 years, she has been working in a public institution with generally accessible facilities, where she is lucky enough to apply and develop her skills in her field of knowledge. Currently, she manages to make a living from her work, meeting her increased needs for ongoing support to enjoy an independent and dignified life. If asked what her identity is, she answers that she is a woman and a professional with a disability.
