People with disabilities are outraged that the Deputy Minister is late in joining remote meetings, leaving earlier. The deputy of the Deputy Minister was most hurt by the phrase that the project is extremely important, for some people with disabilities J. Jakštienė is not a priority.
Ajanai Lolat, a German Shepherd with disabilities, is not a simple dog. After more than a year of training, she became a personal assistant. With her help, Ajana will be able to walk without crutches, and if something happens, the dog will even be able to call for help.
“I have the joy of life – extra activities, people nearby that have never really been before. Dog assistants can bring it not only to me, it can also bring it to other people with disabilities, ”the woman told LNK.
Assistant dogs accompany the hosts abroad to hospitals, cafes and other institutions. In order for such dogs to be legalized in Lithuania, a working group has been set up to draft the law. However, according to Ajana’s work, the Deputy Minister of Social Security and Labor J. Jakštienė, who worked remotely from Spain in May, is stuck.
“She is constantly late, she is shortening our meetings, her schedules are being postponed. Why are the schedules adjusted according to it, when they do not exist “, A. Lolat wondered.
The deputy minister herself admitted that she lacks time to work while in Spain.
“I can join this working group for shorter distances. (…) A lot of current work and these meetings are really rare due to the flow of joint work, ”she said at one of the meetings.
Deputy Minister J. Jakštienė did not work in Spain for a whole week, it was the case that three out of five working days worked. However, disabled people awaiting the law of the dog assistant were most hurt by this deputy minister’s phrase.
“It simply came to our notice then SADM work, we really want those assistant dogs to appear, but the flow of priority work is infinitely high. And in the autumn session, it will only grow, “said the Deputy Minister.
However, the ongoing meetings in Ajanai are worrying. And so in a couple of months, according to her, the preparation of the project did not progress.
“It simply came to our notice then. Maybe we are not big enough, important enough for the Deputy Minister, I don’t know, “the woman told LNK.
The behavior of the Deputy Minister of Social Security and Labor also outraged the Cynology Center.
“It simply came to our notice then. It also hurts those who need that service. That should not be the case, these are certain priorities. And this priority is one of the most important, ”said the head of the Baltic Cynology Center at LNK Vytautas Gustaitis.
According to cynologists, politicians and officials have gathered information on how to legalize assistant dogs abroad. But drafting the law is still stalling.
“We have done a great job. We say take that experience and adapt in Lithuania. So far only the language level. And homework was done only by us, ”said V. Gustaitis.
Human rights experts also say that the Lithuanian government should not delay the legalization of the guide dog.
“Thanks to the dog handler, people can live much more independently. And I would like to remind you that Lithuania is committed to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. And it clearly states that the priority of the state is that the state must do everything possible to ensure that people with disabilities live as independently as possible, ”said Jonas Ruškus, a United Nations human rights expert.
According to the Minister of Social Security and Labor M. Navickienė, the disabled are a priority of the Ministry. A lot of work has been done for their well-being. But the minister continues to reiterate that it does not matter to her where the deputy minister works.
“Whether one deputy minister connects from Lithuania at a distance, or whether he connects from Spain at a distance, there is no difference to me in terms of work organization. Because, in reality, everyone is now working at a distance, ”explained M. Navickienė.
Only due to the Deputy Minister’s statement that the disabled are not a priority, M. Navickienė is not happy.
“I think we really need to think about the words that are being said. And I can only say that people with disabilities, people with disabilities, families raising children with disabilities or caring for people with disabilities are a priority for both me and this Government. And it will be all 4 years, “said Minister M. Navickienė.
It was not possible to contact J. Jakštiene, the Deputy Minister, because she is on holiday. However, the Vice Minister will work in Lithuania from Monday.
–
