This year marks the 10th anniversary of Poland's ratification of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The implementation of the provisions contained in this document represents our commitment to creating conditions for the integration and activity of people with disabilities in every aspect of society. We have been making a special and intensive effort to do so for more than four years, among other things thanks to the successful implementation of the Accessibility Plus program’,

Deputy Minister of Development Funds and Regional Policy Małgorzata Jarosińska-Jedynak said at the inauguration of the Congress at the University of Rzeszow.

The Deputy Minister also participated in the discussion panel entitled Holistic View of Vocational and Social Activation of People with Disabilities.

‘We have been supporting the implementation of various projects and initiatives addressed to people with disabilities for more than 15 years. Thanks to projects financed by the European Social Fund (ESF) among others, nearly 600 thousand people with disabilities benefited, e.g. from assistance in finding employment, social inclusion or various educational activities during that time. Nearly 90 thousand people with disabilities reached out for support only in the labour market area. Almost 1 million people with disabilities were covered with initiatives co-financed from the ESF’,

Deputy Minister Małgorzata Jarosińska-Jedynak stressed.

‘The European Funds for Social Development 2021-2027 program has nearly PLN 2 billion planned for new systemic solutions improving the socio-occupational situation of people with disabilities’,

the Deputy Minister added.

At the closing gala held in an aula of the University of Rzeszow, Deputy Minister Małgorzata Jarosińska-Jedynak received a diploma from the organisers with thanks for the ‘support for professional and social insertion of people with disabilities’.

Organisers of the Congress held on the occasion of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities are:  the Optea Foundation, University of Rzeszow and the iPRACUJZDALNIE.pl job portal. The event was accompanied by the St. Nicholas’ Job Fair where representatives of Occupational Therapy Workshops, Vocational Activity Centres and other organisations presented and sold their handicrafts.