Background

Roma Persons with Disabilities (Roma PWPD) experience severe multiple discrimination across the EU due to the combined effects of disability marginalisation and systemic anti-Gypsyism. This greatly restricts their access to healthcare, education, benefits, long-term care and employment, keeping them in extremely low socio-economic conditions. Despite their needs, there is a significant lack of data and targeted policies, leaving Roma PWPD largely invisible to both governments and the disability movement, while in several countries disability remains a taboo even within Roma communities. Research estimates that 1.6 million Roma PWPD live in the EU and the Balkans, with 82% of those with moderate support needs and 90% of those with high support needs at risk of poverty. Additionally, around one in five report discrimination in accessing healthcare, while the spread of eGovernment services further excludes those without internet access or digital skills.

The project

Based on recommendations from the joint European Disability Forum (EDF) & European Roma Grassroots Organisations (ERGO) network, actions are needed to combat discrimination, improve healthcare access, train Health Professionals and Roma Health Mediators, ensure accessibility, and involve Roma PWPD in policy-making.

The RomInDis project responds to these gaps by training health professionals and mediators and engaging Roma PWPD in co-creating policies to improve their access to health services and social benefits.

Within this context, the main objectives of the RomInDis project are:

• to improve the access of policy makers, health professionals to data about Roma PWD.
• to include actively Roma Health Mediators (RHM) & Health Professionals (HP) in co-developing & validating their Capacity Building programs outlines
• to highlight knowledge & skills gaps of RHM & HP in working with each other & support Roma PWPD
• to improve the knowledge & capacities of RHM & HP on disability, discrimination, and support of Roma PWPD
• to enhance cooperation between RHM and HP in safeguarding the rights & providing support to Roma PWPD
• to create & promote innovative policy recommendations & guidelines for Roma PWPD health care measures
• to actively involve Roma PWPD & capitalize on their experience for improving health inclusion policies & measures
• to raise awareness about social inclusion aspects of Roma PWPD
• to promote the further uptake & exploitation of the new learning opportunities by relevant stakeholders among the Roma communities & HP
• to increase awareness of Roma communities towards breaking down the stigma & taboos on disability

RomInDis at a glance:

• 2 validated Outlines of Capacity Building programs for RHM & HP
• 1 transnational report on gaps, policies for PWPD access to healthcare
• 2 online Capacity Building programs & pilot training of RHM & HP on their cooperation for providing referral, guidance, mediation, access, reception, care & benefits to Roma PWPD
• 1 Code of Good Practice that draws on the lived experience of Roma PWPD in the development of policy proposals & measures on disability issues
• 1 Compendium with recommendations co-developed with Roma PWPD containing recommended measures, actions, policies
• 6 hybrid awareness raising roundtables for experts and policy actors which will have a huge potential for uptake due to their nature, by various stakeholders, active in different sectors of education, both formal & non-formal adult education, vocational education, VET, schools and the youth sector, i.e:
  • VET for professional Roma mediators as well as professionals supporting Roma in the field of health and psychosocial support
  • Higher education for Roma support professionals & experts in health and access issues e.g. social workers, therapists, hospital administrators
  • Schools: teachers & support staff working with Roma children with disabilities
  • Youth: youth workers working with Roma youth populations PWPD