When statistics underline the importance of Just for Smiles’ mission
The statistics published on the occasion of the “International Day of Persons with Disabilities” on equality of the Swiss population show that people with disabilities in Switzerland are less satisfied with their living conditions than the rest of the population, especially in the area of leisure activities.
Last Saturday, 3 December, was International Day of Persons with Disabilities, as it has been every year since 1992. As the United Nations reminded us, the aim of this day is to promote the rights, equality and well-being of persons with disabilities in all areas of society. It also aims to raise awareness of the special situation of persons with disabilities in all aspects of life: cultural, economic, social and political.
In the run-up to the International Day, the Federal Statistical Office published a press release on 28.11.2022 on the Population Equality Indicators 2020. It states that people with disabilities in Switzerland were less satisfied with their living conditions in 2020 than the rest of the population. And the differences in this satisfaction increase with the severity of the disability of the people surveyed (aged 16 to 64 living in a private household). This value is more or less found in all dimensions of well-being considered on a common scale. However, satisfaction with health (6.2 compared to 8.7 for the non-disabled population), financial situation (6.5 compared to 7.3) and leisure activities (6.45 compared to 7.3) were more pronounced.
Just for Smiles does not need these statistics to confirm its commitment and remain convinced of the mission our foundation set itself almost 20 years ago: To enable people with multiple disabilities, young and old, to access recreational and sporting activities, in the spirit of inclusion, mixing and equality.
And our experience shows us day after day, year after year, through the smiles of our ever-increasing number of beneficiaries, how much these activities meet a need and contribute to their well-being and health. The International Day of Persons with Disabilities, which has just passed, is a good occasion to remember this mission.
Thus, for almost 20 years, the Just for Smiles team has been working tirelessly and with always the same passion to bring these moments of emotion and well-being to an ever-increasing number of people with disabilities, young and old. By the way, the opening of the ski season (from 10 January) for our beneficiaries is just around the corner! (ew)