Vienna refuses support: demo for personal assistance is imminent!

Vienna refuses support: demo for personal assistance is imminent!

The Vienna city government is under pressure after refusing to sign an important personal assistance contract. This contract, which is part of the funding guidelines for the harmonization of personal assistance in Austria, would have made it possible to grant people with different disabilities a right to support outside of work. While more and more groups are calling for support, it appears that the city government is continuing to exclude affected people. Only people with physical disabilities should be able to benefit from this service, which, according to the Association of the Blind and Visually Impaired in Vienna, Lower Austria and Burgenland (BSVWNB), is a great injustice. Chairman Kurt Prall warns that the City of Vienna is missing the opportunity to provide essential support for people with sensory impairments and calls for participation in the upcoming demonstration for personal assistance on December 6th, 2024 ots.at reported.

Protests at Vienna City Hall

The demonstration will take place at 2:00 p.m. on the corner of Lichtenfelsgasse and Friedrich-Schmidt-Platz and aims to draw attention to the need for access to personal assistance to no longer be regulated in a discriminatory manner. This measure would not only have helped many people with disabilities, but also improved the legal framework in Vienna in accordance with federal guidelines. The current situation is particularly concerning as it does not meet the demands and needs of people with learning difficulties, mental illness and sensory impairments, making comprehensive community support impossible.

The discussion about personal assistance is also gaining momentum in other areas. Organizations like WAG emphasize that working as a personal assistant offers many benefits, including flexible work hours and the opportunity to gain valuable interpersonal experience. Loud wag.or.at The role of personal assistance is crucial in supporting people with disabilities in everyday life, at work and in their leisure time. Particular attention is paid to respect and cooperation as equals, which underlines the importance of such positions. Given the significant challenges in the city, it remains to be seen whether the protests will lead to a rethink by the Vienna city government and initiate the necessary changes.