Milan Šveřepa

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,…

January 7, 2021
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.)…

January 7, 2021
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…

January 7, 2021
Články a rozhovory 2019

Deník N: Lidé v ústavech si nemůžou zvolit, jak bude jejich život vypadat. Česko porušuje jejich práva, říká odborník Deník N: Ústavy porušují práva lidí s postižením, tempo změn je šnečí, tvrdí experti. Nejde to uspěchat, hájí se stát Výtah z obou článků v angličtině. Záznam diskuze Festivalu demokracie při konferenci Forum 2000. Apolitical: Děti se zdravotním…

January 7, 2021
Vztahy, bydlení a práce, rodiny. Klíčová témata při transformaci sociálních služeb

Přednáška pro konferenci o transformaci sociálních služeb pořádanou Zlínským krajem. (Původně na jaře 2020, odložena kvůli koronaviru na podzim.)

January 7, 2021
„Země pro budoucnost“ aneb Zpátky do zoufalosti

Původně publikované na LinkedIn 18.12.2019. Když na konci srpna 2019 ministr Havlíček oznámil nový branding české inovační strategie, bylo to na povytažení obočí. Teď se z toho najednou stala vizuální identita pro všechna ministerstva, a už jde do tuhého. Ta značka je naprosto zběsilá a bylo by záhodno, aby si to někdo vlivný uvědomil dřív, než se v tom utopí (další?) miliony. Angličtina? Jak…

January 7, 2021
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…

January 7, 2021
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…

January 7, 2021
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…

January 7, 2021
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…

January 7, 2021