Vienna leaves millions for personal assistance - circle questions!

Vienna leaves millions for personal assistance - circle questions!

On the international day of people with disabilities, experts urgently call on to better use the possibilities of personal assistance in Austria. Ralph Schallmeiner, a member of the Greens, emphasizes: "The necessary budgets for personal assistance are available, but are not accessed by many federal states". Even if the range of personal assistance is often perceived as a luxury, it is an essential need for many affected people to be able to live independently. It is emphasized that access to these means is not only a question of prosperity, but also a fundamental human right, since Austria has signed the UN Convention on the Rights of Disabilities.

necessary funding and the current status

The current federal government has launched a pilot project that provides up to 120 million euros in order to expand and standardize personal assistance. Schallmeiner mentions the federal states of Tyrol, Vorarlberg, Carinthia, Salzburg and Burgenland as positive examples where progress has been made. In contrast, Upper Austria, Lower Austria, Styria and Vienna in particular react cautiously. Despite the legitimate claims of 52 million euros for Vienna, social councilor Peter Hacker has decided not to sign the negotiated funding contract. Schallmeiner criticizes this step sharply and indicates that the decision continues to leave many people in Vienna without support.

In Germany, on the other hand, people with disabilities have been able to access personal assistance services since January 1st, 2018. However, certain requirements must be met, including a proven need for support, which is often determined by extensive reports. These requirements for the needs analysis support the demand for more and better personal assistance in Austria, as can be seen from the information from assistenz-erklaert.de Schallmeiner appeals that the federal states urgently accept the funds provided to ensure fair and necessary support for people with disabilities.