Soufiane El Amrani has had a week of firsts.
His first time in Dublin. His first time speaking at EU Presidency conference. And his first Board meeting of the European Disability Forum.
EU Presidency conference: “Make technology really assistive”
Soufiane El Amrani is a self-advocate and the accessibility expert at Inclusion Europe. In Dublin, he spoke about assistive technology at a conference organised by the Irish Presidency of the Council of the European Union.
“People with intellectual disabilities are often forgotten in discussions about assistive technology,” Mr El Amrani said at the conference. “But for us, the right tool can make a huge difference too: A tablet that helps you make a decision. An app that helps you manage your money. A tool that turns information into easy-to-read.”
To illustrate his point, Mr El Amrani talked about how some people with intellectual disabilities use technology to help them live independently and to make decisions.
- Technology that helps people be included. Mi Casa, a project of our Spanish member Plena inclusión, involved 440 people who need a lot of support. 270 of them now live in flats and houses in their community. They use simple tools: an app to plan their activities, money and goals, and smart speakers to control their home just by asking. Today, 9 out of 10 people in the project make decisions about their own life.
- Technology must be easy to use. In Stockholm, there is a centre where children and adults with intellectual disabilities can see, try and learn about different tools before they get them. Every Wednesday afternoon, anyone can walk in, try things out and ask questions. “That is how a tool becomes easy to use,” Mr El Amrani said. “You try it first. Someone shows you how.”
- Technology made with the people who use it. Our French member Unapei built an AI tool called Cap’FALC that helps people write in easy-to-read. They built it step by step with the easy-to-read writers in their network, who test it and say what doesn’t work. And there is one firm rule: people with intellectual disabilities always check the final text.
Mr El Amrani also talked about a person with disabilities from Sweden who cannot speak with her voice, so she uses a computer she controls with her eyes. But it was her assistants who learned how it works and added the words she wants to say.
“So yes, give us assistive technology. But never instead of people. A tablet can help me choose. An app can help me remember. But only a person can listen to me.”
EDF Board
On the following two days, Soufiane El Amrani took his seat at the Board of the European Disability Forum for the first time. Mr El Amrani is the first Board member with an intellectual disability participating in EDF Board meeting. Joachim Busch, who was also elected earlier this years, sadly died before he could take his seat too.
“It shows that people with intellectual disabilities can represent themselves at the highest level,” Mr El Amrani told the Board.
He used his first meeting to speak about something close to Inclusion Europe’s heart: Self-advocates and family members working together for full rights and inclusion.
He also talked about the importance of having the right and being able to choose your own support.
On the agenda of the EDF Board were also:
- Resolution on EU money: Some countries want to cut a big part of EU money going into inclusion, rights and other important topics.
- Approving EDF committee members. Inclusion Europe is represented in the Youth Committee, and has an observer in the Women’s Committee.
Fabiana Teixeira Morais, Inclusion Europe representative in EDF Youth Committee
Fabiana is a young self-advocate with intellectual disability, disability rights activist. Spokesperson for people with intellectual disabilities and advisor on issues concerning young disabled people and disabled people of foreign origin in Iceland. Her interests are accessibility, education, employment, and migrants with disabilities.
Tamara Byrne was selected as observer in the Women’s Committee. Previously, Tamara Byrne was Inclusion Europe representative in EDF Youth Committee.