Greek's point of view about exhibitionists
We don't know if the Greek crisis influences the point of view of the Labor Ministry, but to call pedophiles, exhibitionists and kleptomaniacs a 'disability' created a lot of fuss. Yiannis Vardakastanis, who's blind and leader of the National Confederation of Disabled People (NCDP), is concerned that this new list creates new difficulties for disabled Greeks who are already facing benefit cuts due to the country's financial crisis.
Disability groups all over Greece expressed their anger at the government decision to expand a list of state-recognized disability categories to includepyromaniacs, compulsive gamblers, fetishists and sado-masochists for purposes of medical assessment and to get financial assistance.The NCDP called the action "incomprehensible"and said that pedophiles and fetishists now are awarded for a disability pay up to 35 percent, compared to 80 percent for recipients of a heart transplant and Diabetics with only 10 percent disability pay.
The commotion is about the fact that the Greek government has to cut public spending on health and welfare programs. Independently run welfare programs that survived on state grants have been the hardest hit. Therefore leaving some disabled groups facing sudden drops in their standard of care. "And adding a kleptomaniac as a disabled person just can't be taken serious', the National Confederation says.
