I just learned that, reading about Inclusion Europe member in Lithuania, called Viltis.
I always used the name, not knowing it had any particular meaning.

What I did know is Viltis has been doing important work.
For 35 years now.

“During the Soviet period, children with intellectual disabilities were brought up in institutions in harsh conditions. When a disabled child fell ill, doctors did not prescribe proper medicine. The child either overcame the illness – or didn’t.
“The opinion was that all people should be healthy, and that disabled children are born only to “antisocial“ families. Most parents did not leave the house for a walk with their disabled children.
“As a family, we decided that our son should live with us. It meant I had to work at night, without any rest as I had to take care of my son. I was very isolated.”

Those are the words of Dana Migaliova, describing the situation in which her son was born, as were thousands of others, and which led her, eventually, to establish and lead Viltis.

In those years, Viltis did a lot of very important work. On access to eduction, on right to decide, on deinstitutionalisation…
Of course, much still remains to be done in Lithuania.

Viltis also contributes to the European movement of people with intellectual disabilities and their families. Not least with:

• hosting Europe in Action 2019
• contributing to Inclusion indicators
• participating in many projects, and other activities.

Dana serves on Inclusion Europe board, too.
Always offering great insights, dedication, and heart.
And one more thing, so often missing in certain places – experiences and connections to people and countries in Eastern Europe.

Dana has been my secret (not any more!) inspiration ever since I met her.
Her kindness and resilience, especially resilience, are things I often think about.
(Especially when I hear about “the vulnerable”…)

Dana Migaliova just received the “Medal of the Order of the Grand Duke of Lithuania Gediminas” from the president of Lithuania.

So, I will leave you with her words:

“A lot has changed since Viltis was established in 1989. People with intellectual disabilities visit public places – shops, libraries, cinemas, parks – and everyone is used to meeting them. Parents no longer have to hide their children.
“People with intellectual disabilities are protected by law, they attend mainstream schools and can receive all kinds of training – advocacy training, peer support, education to acquire new skills, etc.

“My wish for my son is to always be safe. I wish he had a personal assistant so he could feel more independent.
“I wish for children with intellectual disabilities everywhere to be able to go to school and be integrated in society, and for their parents to have a decent life and enough time for a job. I wish for every person with a disability to get the support they need and to be treated as an individual.”