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 their own money, or where to live, or who to marry.
• 750,000 people with intellectual disabilities must live in segregated “care” institutions with 30 persons or more in one place.
• In 21 countries, few or no adults with intellectual disabilities live in their own place. That is a far cry from how adults in Europe typically live.
• Education is on a good path, but 700,000 children with learning disabilities are in special schools. Approximately 20,000 children with intellectual disabilities are getting no education at all.
• Less than 10% of people with intellectual disabilities have a paid job. In 17 countries, people with intellectual disabilities risk losing disability benefits when they earn their salary.

Inclusion indicators give us good basis for advocacy in the years to come.

Anyone interested can use them to show their government how they are doing in terms of rights and inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities.

• Where they must improve.
• In which countries they may get inspiration for what works.
• What good things they can build on.

I hope many of you will put this resource to good use.

We will keep updating, learning, and improving.