Disabled in Poland: A Lack of Care

"There is no cure for my disease and, in my case, no medication that applies. Rehabilitation works in some cases, but not with my eyesight issues," Jacek explains.

Because of his ongoing health issues, he cannot continue to work in his profession - "the IT sector only hires the young and able-bodied," Jacek comments bitterly - but the only help he receives from the state is a partial disability pension, as he is considered only partially unable to work.

"I will only get a full pension when I reach retirement age," Jacek says. "Until then, I have to make do with the partial one, which is far from enough to make a living. They really should give a full disability pension from the moment a diagnosis is received. MS is a disease which can affect younger people too."

Jacek is one of 4.7 million Poles who live with disabilities, according to the 2011 nationwide census conducted by the authorities. These people have been protesting for years, demanding more substantial support from the state. The most recent demo was an occupation in the Polish parliament in March, and further protests are scheduled for April.

In the meantime, fresh proposals by the government to alter the financial support scheme for some disabled people have been met with criticism.

"The government treats us as if we were the very last element of the food chain," Iwona Hartwich, the mother of an adult son with a disability and a main organiser of the protests over the years, tells BIRN.

Children during classes at the non-public school 'Always Together' for children with psychomotoric disabilities in Poznan, Poland, 23 January 2015. EPA/JAKUB KACZMARCZYK Angry and frustrated

After years of fronting protests for people with disabilities...