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 […]
Category: English
“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, […]
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 […]
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.) […]
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 […]
Checklist to ensure EU-funded measures contribute to independent living by developing and ensuring access to family-based and community-based services
The purpose of the publication is to ensure EU funds contribute to independent living and inclusion in the community. The checklist helps in designing policies and funding for: Transition from institutional to family-based and community-based services for children, persons with disabilities, persons with mental health problems and elderly persons; Development of quality family-based and community-based […]
Deinstitutionalisation essentially is a struggle for independence
First published on Inclusion Europe website 3 May 2019. On 11 April I went to Romania to speak at a seminar about deinstitutionalisation and people with intellectual disabilities. The seminar was organised by the European Commission and the Romanian authorities. I was there as a co-chair of the European Expert Group on the Transition from Institutional […]
Deinstitutionalisation means ensuring people are in full control of their life
First published on Inclusion Europe website 19 March 2019. I spent 2 days in Croatia last week learning about the situation of children and of adults with intellectual disabilities being segregated in institutions. I listened to Croatian experts and activists at a seminar organised by the Association for Self Advocacy (a member of Inclusion Europe) and ENIL. The […]