Brussels, 21/05/2003 (Agence Europe) - On 20 May in Brussels the Commissioner for Equal Opportunities, Anna Diamantopoulou, officially opened the monographic exhibition, sponsored by Vidal-Quadras Roca MEP and entitled "Integrating Disabled People in European Society through Employment: the ONCE Model". This exhibition will take place at the European Parliament (Altiero Spinelli) from 19-22 May. It is composed of various thematic areas offering a global vision of the ONCE Foundation (the Spanish National Organisation for the Blind): social care, cooperation with other disabilities, rehabilitation, education, training and employment and research and development. The latest technological advances available for the blind (known as typhlotechnology) are also presented.
During "European ONCE week", representatives from the Foundation also presented their activities to the EP employment and social affairs committee. Round tables were also organised, the first under the Chairmanship of Richard Howitt (MEP and President of the Disability Intergroup) on the subject of "Best Practices in employment of disabled people"; the second, Chaired by Imelda Reid MEP, focuses on "E-accessibility for disabled people".
In a press statement, the ONCE Foundation points out that around 50 million European citizens are suffering from a disability and that 60% of its own workforce has a disability - 35,000 people - are disabled and between 1999-2002, ONCE created more than 20,000 jobs for people suffering from a disability and provided around 70,000 disabled people with vocational training.