AEMA requires recognition of degree of disability following diagnosis of multiple sclerosis

On the occasion of World Multiple Sclerosis Day, the Multiple Sclerosis Association of Almeria, AEMA, member of FAAM, Federation of Associations of People with Disabilities of Almeria, held the last event of all planned for the month of May. The main goal was to make society visible and aware of the reality of this neurodegenerative disease, and the reading of the manifesto was the last event to mark this anniversary.

In this text, AEMA called for addressing important issues such as recognition of the degree of disability after a diagnosis of a disease: “For 17 years, we have been asking for an issue that will make it easier for those affected to access benefits and resources that will significantly improve their quality of life,” it said in its in a speech by the association’s president, Isabel Martinez, citing as an example the case of those who are in the prime of working age and see that this diagnosis affects their work. In this sense, the association also demanded greater commitment from the business community both in adapting workplaces and in compliance with the 2% required by law when hiring professionals with disabilities.

On this day, AEMA was supported by various authorities, including the president of FAAM, Valentin Sola, who valued the work of the association not only by demanding solutions to issues as important as those presented during the reading of the manifesto, “but always by providing direct assistance to members and their families with the primary goal of mitigating the burden of disease.”

For her part, Paola Lainez, Advisor for Family, Inclusion and Equality at Almeria City Council, said that “today, on World Multiple Sclerosis Day, we must remember that when we talk about inclusion, we must go beyond physical accessibility . It is about creating an environment where all people, regardless of ability, have equal opportunities, where differences are respected and diversity is celebrated. It is therefore vital that we continue to work to raise awareness and remove barriers, both physical and social, that prevent people with multiple sclerosis from fully participating.”

Likewise, Paola Lainez highlighted the City Council’s collaboration with AEMA, “whose headquarters is in Espacio Alma, with which we organize various activities on multiple sclerosis and which, in its daily work, demonstrates its commitment to improving people’s quality of life.” people suffering from multiple sclerosis and related pathologies.”

Territorial Delegate for Health and Consumer Affairs Juan de la Cruz Belmonte called multiple sclerosis “a disease of a thousand faces due to the variety of symptoms it presents.” According to Belmonte, “those who really know them suffer from them. The rest of us, and in my case as a healthcare representative, I am here to reach out to them and listen to the needs that they present to us to try by all means possible to improve the quality of life of the people affected.”

The delegate noted that “through FAAM I have repeatedly emphasized the importance of creating an organic disability group with which we work in a coordinated manner across all our hospitals to allocate more resources to improve care, diagnosis and research for pathologies such as multiple sclerosis.” “Together and in a coordinated manner we taking steps that lead to the improved quality of life that we all want for people suffering from this pathology.”

In May, AEMA developed a total of five activities to also meet partners’ demand for information on topical issues such as physical activity or mental health care.