Milan Šveřepa marks 10 years at Inclusion Europe. This is his post number 1.
When I started at Inclusion Europe, many people asked me: “Why are you doing this?”
A perfectly reasonable question. Only it was often asked in a certain way: “You don’t have a family member with a disability? OK. But why…?”
Why do you care?
Unsaid, but obvious.
I don’t remember what I used to answer. Probably something about the injustice of segregation and institutions, and the drive to change it.
But I’ve thought about the question a lot since. Mostly in three ways.
1. Personal
I have a theory about why I care so much about deinstitutionalisation in particular. But that’s a story for another time.
2. Ableist
I could never shake the feeling that part of the question was really: “Why do you care so much about this? Who cares about people with intellectual disabilities?”
Maybe that’s too harsh. Maybe not.
I’ve seen enough to know how deep some views of people with intellectual disabilities go. One of them is: “They aren’t worth it.” Worth a good education. Worth quality support. Worth the effort it takes to change policies.
In this view, caring about people with intellectual disabilities can only be explained by being their family member. Who else would bother?
3. “Unprofessional”
At European level, it’s unusual to talk about policy in clear, emotional language. It’s seen as unprofessional.
You’re a proper “expert” only when you use expert words and sound as dry as computers used to. When you do the sensible thing and show that you actually care about the issue you say is so important, that raises questions.
The simpler answer
Underneath all three, there’s a simpler answer.
When you talk about an issue and someone asks you “Why do you care?”, you’ve done your job. You’ve sparked the right kind of interest.
Because what that question really means is: Why should I care, too?
And when people ask that, you’ve got them.
So, thank you to everyone who has asked me that question.
Milan Šveřepa, Chief Executive, Inclusion Europe
Milan marks 10 years at Inclusion Europe:
