Deputy Minister of Social Welfare, Marilena Evangelou, announced on Wednesday that the Council of Ministers approved a new co-financed project, with a funding of 10 million euros, entitled “New Network of Social Integration Services for People with Disabilities”.

Evangelou also announced that the Council of Ministers decided to appoint Elena Pericleous as Commissioner for the Protection of Children’s Rights.

Referring to the scheme, she said it will contribute significantly to the upgrading of services for the empowerment and support of people with disabilities and is part of the major reform being promoted for people with disabilities.

The Deputy Minister said that the Cabinet decided to approve the introduction and expansion of a total of 8 services. Those services are decision support consultants, trainers for people with disabilities, personal work assistants, work integration professionals, social aides, Cypriot sign language interpreters, providers of supported living service programmes and early family support psychologists.

She added that the the Cyprus Confederation of Organisations of the Disabled will be responsible for the decision support consultant services throughout Cyprus, adding that 80 consultants will be gradually recruited to support approximately 4,000 adults with disabilities.

“Today’s decision to introduce and expand services for people with disabilities is part of a broader reform. The disability law is a major reform,” the Deputy Minister pointed out.