Category: Blog

  • DI is not a rocket science

    As organisations of people with intellectual disabilities, and other advocates, we spend a lot of time demanding deinstitutionalisation.We also need to give time to working with those who make it happen. It’s about demonstrating to those responsible that deinstitutionalisation is doable.It has been done.It is being done.It can and will be done. Deinstitutionalisation is not…

  • Co funguje v komunikaci a prosazování práv lidí s intelektovým postižením?

    Věřte nevěřte, lidé se mě na tohle ptají nebo chtějí nějakou přednášku či konzultaci. Ptalo se i JDI, což je od nich milé, a pak chtěli abych to napsal, což je od nich chytré. Dostanou moudro, vyhnou se dalším mým rozborům a rýpání a.k.a konzultaci. Že se mě na to ptají má asi co dělat…

  • So this just happened

    We are at a “diversity and inclusion” event organised by what is considered an elite European institution.Speakers say “diversity” and “inclusion” a lot. Nobody mentions people with disabilities (except when Disability Rights Strategy is listed), unless I missed something. Towards the end, my colleague asks about disability policies, and the next question is about disability…

  • “How to change things when change is hard”

    “How to change things when change is hard”

    Hey Milan, would you recommend any books on deinstitutionalisation, I was asked recently. And sure enough, I shared some reading I find useful and interesting. But I didn’t mention the two books that I consider the most important, and use almost daily in my work. Neither of them is about deinstitutionalisation. But both are. Take…

  • Hey Milan: What do you think works in advocacy and communication?

    I’ve been talking with some organisations looking to improve their communication and strategies promoting deinstitutionalisation and community-based support over the past couple of months. Asked about my experience in what works and what doesn’t, there are 3 ideas behind what we try to do and I think works. Maybe you’d be interested to hear about…

  • In conversation with… Podcasts on Inclusion Europe Radio

    In conversation with… Podcasts on Inclusion Europe Radio

    To tell about different stories, experiences, and perspectives on the work we are doing on Inclusion Europe. That is, broadly ;-), the aim of a new podcast series we started in April 2022 at Inclusion Europe Radio. The conversations are hosted by Soufiane El Amrani and me (sometimes, I go it alone). Listen to the…

  • European Commission’s Guidance on independent living and inclusion in the community

    Today (11/12/2024), I had the pleasure to open a seminar on Guidance on independent living and inclusion in the community of persons with disabilities in the context of EU funding. The European Commission document is an important step in promoting the right of people with disabilities to live independently and to be included in their communities.…

  • Opožděně do výroční ankety

    Promeškal jsem příležitost přispět v anketě, kterou ke svým narozeninám a hlavně ke dni lidských práv, uspořádalo JDI. Na svou obhajobu uvádím, že jsem byl v předmětném období dost zaneprázdněn, především věcmi, které by JDI měly být po chuti. Bylo by ovšem nespravedlivé, aby vás tyto okolnosti připravily o mé odpovědi. Pojďme tedy na otázky, které JDI…

  • It seems that deinstitutionalisation has become an exercise in wordsmithing

    I was invited to speak during a workshop of the European Parliament’s Committee on Employment and social affairs. The workshop was about Deinstitutionalisation and independent living of persons with disabilities. The workshop, chaired by Li Andersson MEP, took place on 2 December 2024 in Brussels. Thank you for the opportunity to speak on behalf of…

  • Guidance, report, judgement

    “Giving effect to independent living involves redirecting investments and resources from institutional settings and services to accessible and non-segregated places of residence, community-based services and support for persons with disabilities.” The European Commission released a Notice on “Guidance on independent living and inclusion in the community of persons with disabilities in the context of EU funding”. The Guidance…