The Supervisory Board of the State Fund for the Rehabilitation of Disabled Persons is a body that has a direct impact on the directions of use of the Fund's resources so as to react optimally to the needs of the environment of disabled persons. Its tasks include mainly the initiation, evaluation and approval of programs supporting the occupational rehabilitation and social integration of disabled persons. In 2019, the amount of PLN 283 million was spent on the implementation of the Board’s programmes. Altogether, PFRON appropriated nearly PLN 5.6 billion for the support of disabled persons in 2019, and this amount will increase to PLN 6.3 billion in 2020.

New Supervisory Board of PFRON established

On Friday, the official appointment of members of the Supervisory Board of PFRON for the term 2020–2023 took place in the Ministry of Family, Labour and Social Policy. The President of the Supervisory Board became Paweł Wdówik – Secretary of State in MFL&SP and Government Plenipotentiary for Disabled Persons.

‘Our task is to restore the full functioning of disabled persons in social life. We provide equal opportunities to disabled persons,’ said Minister Marlena Maląg during the ceremony. ‘The key task of the government is to undertake actions in favour of disabled persons. I am happy that Paweł Wdówik has joined the Ministry of Family, Labour and Social Policy as Government Plenipotentiary for Disabled Persons,’ added the head of MFL&SP.

Deputy Minister Paweł Wdówik was satisfied that the government had noticed for the first time in a few decades that persons with disabilities are socially and professionally active people. ‘Subjectivity has become a priority, and this is why I am here,’ said the new government plenipotentiary for disabled persons. ‘Actions must be diversified. We have the ‘Availability+’ program. Financial aid has increased also for occupational therapy workshops and occupational activity establishments. Programs promised in the Solidarity Fund are under implementation. Nothing has been taken away. I must stress that disabled persons want to be active and cannot be treated only as recipients of benefits,’ emphasised Wdówik.

‘We are happy with the appointment of the new Supervisory Board of PFRON. Programs initiated, evaluated and approved by the Supervisory Board allow us to increase regularly aid for persons with various kinds of disability. In this way, we can fulfil more effectively our mission of supporting the occupational rehabilitation and social integration of disabled persons,’ stresses Krzysztof Michałkiewicz, President of the Management Board of PFRON.

The Supervisory Board of PFRON for the term 2020–2023 consists of:

1. Aleksandra Kieres – President of the Management Board of the Nadzieja [Hope] Foundation, member of the Management Board of the Federation of Non-Government Organisations Helping Persons Injured in Transport Accidents
2. Renata Górna – member of the All-Poland Alliance of Trade Unions
3. Krzysztof Rowiński – Plenipotentiary of the National Committee of the Independent Self-governing Trade Union "Solidarity” for Disabled Persons
4. Zofia Żuk – Business Centre Club Employers Union
5. Piotr Krasuski – Head of the Department of the European Social Fund (Ministry of Funds and Regional Policy)
6. Iwonna Kulikowska – Deputy Head of the Department of Budgetary Sector Financing (Ministry of Finance)
7. Janusz Piątek – Polish Craft Association
8. Bernarda Machniak – Forum of Trade Unions
9. Jan Zając – President of the Management Board: Ziko dla Zdrowia Foundation, Ziko Apteka Sp. z o.o., Polish Organisation of Disabled Persons' Employers, Ziko Sp. z o.o. – Owner and President of the Management Board
10. Mariusz Mituś – member of the Management Board of the Circle of the Polish Association for Persons with Intellectual Disability in Jarosław and the Provincial Social Council for Disabled Persons, Vice-President of the Main Management Board of the Polish Association for Persons with Intellectual Disability