Welcome to Disability Rights Advocates
Disability Rights Advocates-Hungary (DRA-H) turns 10! To celebrate, DRA-H is collaborating with other Hungarian civil rights organizations to launch an initiative titled ‘Steps for Tomorrow’. The initiative’s participants aim to work on smaller, local access problems such as Braille-signs, or a publicizing a library with equipment for deaf people. The initiative, which has been documented by the media, has been very well received.
DRA-H was a key contributor to the drafting of the Equal Opportunity Law, the first of its kind in Hungary, designed to provide equal rights to persons with disabilities. The Equal Opportunity Law establishes equal rights standards for people with disabilities in the areas of employment, transportation, and public accommodations. Doctor Zsophia Kalman, Director of DRA-H, provided background to the legislature as part of a panel of experts. DRA-H is currently developing strategies to implement and enforce the Equal Opportunity Law. As a first step, DRA-H is collaborating with local Hungarian civil rights lawyers to develop model lawsuits to enforce the standards that the Equal Opportunity Law creates. These new suits will focus on the issues of architectural barriers and will target newly constructed inaccessible buildings, ATMs, and phone booths.
Currently, DRA-H has initiated two major high-impact lawsuits in Hungary, one against a national transportation company, Volan, and the other against the OTP Bank, Hungary’s biggest bank chain. Both cases were brought on behalf of people with visual impairments seeking accessible services and accommodations. These cases were brought to trial in 2006 and a decision is expected soon. In addition to these cases, DRA-H’s De Facto Legal Advisory Office has given advice to advocates in several cases such as child welfare, elder abuse, and discrimination against a high school student who uses a wheelchair.
DRA-H, through its leadership, training and advocacy, has been a pivotal force in changing social and cultural attitudes towards disability. 2006 marked DRA-H’s 7th Shared World Training Conference for young people with all types of disabilities. Themes included self-advocacy, independent living and employment. These training sessions had a notable impact on its participants’ attitudes and self-perceptions. Instead of the earlier pessimistic views, doubts and complaints, a positive vision of change gradually developed. Participants began to demonstrate an inner strength, self-confidence and a desire to advocate for their civil rights. Photos and a report are available on DRA-H website www.drahu.org.hu.
