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2021 at Inclusion Europe, and related news
Bringing you an overview of news, reports, policies covered in Include newsletter this year. Subscribe here not to miss anything next time around. * And a bit of other stuff, too. Oh, and this was 2020 by the way. Hello. I hope you find this a useful reminder of some things that happened this year. When it’s…
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Better job opportunities for people with intellectual disabilities
Soufiane El Amrani and Milan Šveřepa wrote an article about employment, published in Dutch here. Below is an English version: „As a person with intellectual disabilities I think it is important for all people with intellectual disabilities to have a job like everyone else,“ says Soufiane El Amrani, self-advocacy and easy-to-read officer at Inclusion Europe. „Having a job…
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Institutionalisation of old people in Czechia
Forum for human rights, Validity launch of report on institutionalisation of old people, September 2021. My remarks: Massive institutionalisation of older people demonstrates the failure of policy when it comes to securing support and care. It stems from lack of understanding how support and care should and can be provided. And it is based…
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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…
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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,…
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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.)…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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The Economics of Belonging
Just notes and archives of some books I read and find interesting and relevant. “A radical new approach to economic policy that addresses the symptoms and causes of inequality in Western society today.” Absolute must-read for anyone interested in social policy (because that’s my angle). Haven’t read more relevant, coherent, current book on this subject.…