“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 […]
Category: English
“Viltis” is hope in Lithuanian 🇱🇹
I just learned that, reading about Inclusion Europe member in Lithuania, called Viltis.I always used the name, not knowing it had any particular meaning. What I did know is Viltis has been doing important work.For 35 years now. “During the Soviet period, children with intellectual disabilities were brought up in institutions in harsh conditions. When […]
Kudos where kudos’ due
We all know how hard it is to get your message outside of your usual circles. And how valuable it is, too. I’m so impressed seeing this from our member in Slovenia: A cover story, 3-page interview in a supplement to one of the daily newspapers. The interview is with Mateja de Reya, director of […]
Number of the month series for Inclusion Europe
Series of articles which focus on some statistic and other numbers describing situation of people with intellectual disabilities and families. Started in February 2024. Newest first. 70 This year, we are joining Enable Scotland in celebrating 70 years of their work for an equal society where everyone has the right to live, work and participate […]
2023 and other numbers
Inclusion Europe year-end summary. Dear friends, colleagues. I want to thank each and every one of you for all your work supporting full rights and inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities. 2023 saw a lot of things we can proudly share in a year-end summary. And we wouldn’t be here without the dedication, hard work, […]
Inclusion Europe is 35 this year, and you wouldn’t know it.
Today (14 December 2023) in Brussels, we’ll be having a little celebration of Inclusion Europe anniversary. We are 35 this year. I’m looking forward to meet some of the people who contribute to our work towards full rights and inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities and their families. It’s always a pleasure. Now, you’d probably […]
Inclusion indicators
New report shows for the first time what the “European way of life” means for 20 million people with intellectual disabilities and their families. This new report shows information about 29 countries, 23 of them in the EU. Key findings: In 26 countries, a person’s legal capacity can be removed, and they cannot decide about […]
Disability inclusion in European associations
There are over 100 million people with disabilities in Europe. That’s a population larger than the largest of EU member states. But how many people with disabilities do you know who sit on the boards of associations, who are in the decision-making roles in these organisations? The Boardroom magazine invited me to write about this, […]
Supporting a person to establish their new life during deinstitutionalisation
Every person leaving an institution needs support in establishing a new life, and in overcoming the harm and trauma caused by institutionalisation. Presentation of principles and some examples of supporting people with intellectual disabilities to live independently and to be included. With particular focus on support for people leaving “care” institutions. I made this presentation […]
Right to live independently and to be included; Deinstitutionalisation; Support
Many politicians, public authorities, and disability service providers act as if they don’t know what the law says about inclusion of people with disabilities.As if they never heard of good disability support. They keep forcing people into “care” institutions, even building new ones.They delay the necessary de-segregation with talk about “need for evidence”, or about […]