Written for Inclusion Europe 13 September 2021. When the news is filled with clawing away of people’s rights, and chipping away on the rule of law, what does a democratic-minded person do to keep hopeful and level-headed? We look up to the institutions charged with protecting them, of course. But what does one do when […]
Category: English
The Development, Conceptualisation and Implementation of Quality in Disability Support Services
I was honoured to have been interviewed for a book on deinstitutionalisation, community-based services and inclusion of people with disabilities. About the book “Social services for people with disabilities have undergone substantial changes over time, in particular in the past two decades. Whilst lack of affordable and appropriate housing is a barrier to community living […]
Just some work from last year which, in retrospect, makes me happy.
I don’t know about you but I don’t find project reporting particularly enjoyable. It doesn’t help when it is all about a year which itself was incredibly hard. But there is one element to it which is quite gratifying: seeing all of the year’s work collected and summarised together. It gives you a perspective on […]
Neglect and discrimination multiplied
Inclusion Europe has published a new report on how the coronavirus and the measures implemented in response to the pandemic have impacted on the rights and lives of people with intellectual disabilities. It makes for grim reading, finding that the discrimination and neglect faced by those with intellectual disabilities worsened during the pandemic. Politico.eu The Inclusion Europe […]
“It makes for grim reading”
Even thought the report itself is very grim and infuriating, it made me very happy to see it being recommended by the widely-read Politico Brussels Playbook morning newsletter. The report is about covid-measures impact on the rights and lives of people with intellectual disabilities and their families. The newsletter is almost a required reading for […]
Opposition to inclusion is a refusal to accept people who differ
From Reporting Democracy: Opposition to the desegregation of Czech schools is being used by extremist politicians to attract mainstream voters, including the middle class who worry about the effect on their children from the inclusive policy. Over 30% of all Roma pupils attended special schools in 2014, compared with an average of 2% for non-Roma, […]
Disability strategy: EU should be the change it wants to see
Today (1 July 2020) Inclusion Europe contributed to a consultation on the next European Disability Strategy, organised by Helena Dalli, EU Commissioner for Equality. Alongside other EU disability organisations Inclusion Europe recognises the significance of the strategy to date. And we know very well what we want from the next one. Clear direction matters. (Of course we are not the only ones to have high expectations.) […]
4 eventful years at Inclusion Europe
This week (25 August 2020), it has been 4 years since I joined Inclusion Europe. Eventful, that’s what we could call them. It makes me feel really proud being allowed to follow up on the great work and legacy created by my predecessors. Working on so many important issues alongside great, dedicated colleagues across the organisation, […]
The plight of Europe’s disabled under coronavirus
What coronavirus and the lockdown highlights is the ongoing segregation and discrimination of people with intellectual disabilities, especially in access to healthcare. This problem is not likely to have a “lockdown exit strategy” any time soon. My article in EU Observer published 21 April 2020. (A copy here too.) Czech version: Koronakrize z pohledu lidí […]
Not all children are included in deinstitutionalisation
There is no doubt that institutionalisation does tremendous damage to children’s health and development. Luckily, there has been significant progress to move away from institutionalisation, and instead support families to avoid separation by developing foster care and other alternatives. Unfortunately, this somehow seems not to apply to children with disabilities. In many countries, children with […]