The petition asked that the European Union take action to end all forms of discrimination against the disabled by introducing new legislation.

Some 300 people, many in wheelchairs, rallied outside EU headquarters in a call for action organized by the European Disability Forum, which also put together the petition and handed it over European Commission Vice President Margot Wallstrom.

"We have problems, too. We need help and support and also to change the way people with health problems are looked after," said Valerie Lang from the group.

The EU is home to some 50 million people with disabilities, the group said.

The group has petitioned on everything from better access to public transport, equal job opportunities to making more user friendly mobile phones for people with disabilities, such as those who are visually impaired, deaf or wheelchair bound.

Richard Howitt, a member of Britain's Labor Party and of the European Parliament, called for the 27-nation bloc to adopt regulations such as those outlined in the U.S. Disabilities Act guaranteeing the rights of people with disabilities.

"Disabled people here continue to suffer as victims of denied educational opportunity, restricted housing choice and inaccessible transport," he said.

Several EU-wide rules banning discrimination are already in place. New rules aimed at combatting discrimination against disabled and elderly on airplanes came into force in July. That legislation offers guarantees to disabled and impaired travelers, such as free use of wheelchairs and other assistance, and bans airlines from refusing to carry passengers because of reduced mobility.