Inclusion Europe

“Practical” and “emotional” – training for Ukrainian activists on support for people with intellectual disabilities Inclusion Europe, in collaboration with our member organisation “The All-Ukrainian NGO Coalition for People with Intellectual Disabilities”, organised 3-day training for parents of people with intellectual disabilities, and leaders of Ukrainian disability organisations. The training was designed to share experiences and improve skills in providing support for people with intellectual disabilities. 26 participants attended, representing NGOs from across Ukraine. The training took place in Lutsk, Ukraine, mid-August, as part of Inclusion Europe work supporting rights and inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities in Ukraine. This work is supported by CBM, as part of the European Disability Forum’s project. One of the participants of the training was Olena Kravchenko, head of the NGO Coalition. Olena was forced to evacuate from occupied Mariupol in 2022, and this was the first time she was able to reconnect with her colleagues in person. Participants learned and exchanged on 2 main topics, requested by members of the NGO Coalition: 1. Person-centred approach to supporting people with intellectual disabilities. 2. Developing projects, and theory of change. “This training provided participants with practical tools for their work,” said Olena Tsarenko, NGO Coalition project coordinator. “It was also important that family members and leaders of the NGO Coalition branches were able to meet in person after such a long time.” This was also the first time since the full-scale invasion the Council of the NGO Coalition was able to meet in person. The Council discussed new goals and projects aimed at helping people with intellectual disabilities in Ukraine.

750,000 people with intellectual disabilities must live in segregated “care” institutions. Many more live with their parents until they are unable to provide daily support. Family members become disability support providers instead of being just parents or siblings. https://lnkd.in/g_jpXF-n

✳ I saw much more self-advocates’ participation in research, notes Jyrki Pinomaa after attending a research congress ✳ The 17th IASSIDD World Congress took place in Chicago, USA, August 5-8, 2024. IASSIDD 2024 Congress (the International Association for the Scientific Study of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities) conference are organised every third year, now five years had passed since the previous one in Glasgow 2019.   This was my third IASSIDD World Congress and I was extremely glad to find out one very good and positive development. This World Congress introduced self-advocates as co-researchers, highlighting their expertise, and their lived experience. The expert role of families, parents and siblings was also recognised more clearly than before.   One of my goals in attending these congresses has been to promote the co-operation between advocacy and research, to bring the voice and view of families into these discussions. Now I see it happening, and I think it is a very good progress. I am not saying that I had anything to do with it. I just think that the time has been right for the research world to understand this.     Amongst the 1,000 participants, there were a lot of self-advocates and family members, and numerous presentations were about inclusive research with self-advocates as co-researchers. Part of the Congress program and an instructions booklet were published also in easy-to-read English. Despite the good intentions the Congress was not inclusive. Majority of the speakers, especially in parallel sessions, talked far too fast, making it very difficult to follow, and near impossible for support persons to do their work well. Means of improving event accessibility such as the red, yellow and green cards were not in use. There were many interesting topics at the Congress. Having several parallel sessions running at the same time makes it difficult to choose from. You inevitably have to prioritise, and will miss many important topics and sessions. All ten keynotes were truly good and well presented. There was, however, one that struck me, maybe because it was about something we all struggle with constantly; “How to overcome intellectual disability stigma”, by Professor Katrina Scior from the UK. Professor Scior has been working with self-advocates for a long time. One of them is former board member of Inclusion Europe, Harry Roche.   Katrina Scior’s keynote included an approach which I gladly share: “It is time to desist from using established models and campaigning efforts to reduce disability stigma and instead position people with intellectual disabilities not only at the centre but as the driving force in efforts to overcome stigma.”   This reminds of one the centre-pieces of Inclusion Europe work: Making sure every possible self-advocate can tell their story face to face with those who need to hear it.

We welcome Freddy Jussien to Inclusion Europe team as our new Advocacy Lead! We look forward to the energy and insights he will bring to our advocacy for full rights and inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities and their families. Welcome aboard! 🙌

Inclusion indicators reflect lived experiences and challenges faced by people with intellectual disabilities and their families. In this video we take a closer look at the findings of the report and why it’s important to close the disability data gap.

Ranking of countries, from best to worst, in respecting the right to live independently and decide for people with intellectual disabilities. In 21 countries few or no adults with intellectual disabilities live in their own place. https://lnkd.in/g_jpXF-n

If a person is deprived of legal capacity, it will have a negative impact on all areas of his life. That is, they limit him in expressing his own will and making decisions. Read more: https://lnkd.in/eC7ZtT8t

Barriers affect millions of people with disabilities, and indirectly their families. We need legislation that protects the rights and supports them in decision-making. Everyone deserves to be accepted by society and to shape their own future. Read more: https://lnkd.in/dxY8d6Bh

The infographic is showing ranking of countries, from best to worst, in respecting the right to vote and decide for people with intellectual disabilities. 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. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/gdnuPNzZ.

Inclusion Europe is looking for a Communication Trainee: join our team to learn new skills. If you are motivated and interested in disability rights, you might be the perfect fit to join our team. Deadline: 29 August 2024 Start date: Mid September - October Apply here: https://lnkd.in/emqT_e42