Diversity. Equality. Inclusion. In action.
The conference takes place from 7 to 9 May 2024 in Glasgow, Scotland.
The event is co-organised with Enable, who celebrate their 70th anniversary in 2024.
Programme
3 streams run through the conference programme:
- Developing self-advocacy and activism.
- Changing disability support services to be person-led, and aligned with disability rights.
- Celebrating good work being done for inclusion across Europe, including learning from others (women’s’ rights, anti-racism etc.).
There will be also opportunities to discuss and learn about the work being done in different countries.
Trainings in topics such as campaigning, fundraising will also be part of the conference.
About Europe in Action conferences
Europe in Action conferences bring together more than 200 people with intellectual disabilities, their families, activists, and professionals. Participants discuss issues important to them and share experiences and ideas to advance inclusion.
The first Europe in Action conference was organised in 2003. This is the 20th Europe in Action conference.
The conference is where our movement comes together to exchange, learn from one another, and strengthen each other’s work towards full rights and inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities and their families.
The conference is also a place for disability support providers, and decision-makers to learn about what people with intellectual disabilities and families expect from services and public policies.
Speakers include
Katarina Ivanković Knežević, European Commission. Katarina is a Director for Social Rights and Inclusion in the Directorate General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion. Her area of activity is modernisation of social protection systems and wider social policies, implementation of the European Pillar of Social Rights. She leads work on disability and inclusion and is also DG EMPL Equality Coordinator.
Heather Gilchrist, Scotland (UK). Heather is a membership ambassador and self-advocate from ENABLE Scotland, and will talk about engaging and influencing policy.
John Dalrymple and Frances Brown, Scotland (UK). John and Frances are from Radical Visions. They will talk about deinstitutionalisation in Scotland.
Elisabeta Moldovan and Alina Ursoi, Romania. Elisabetagrew up in different institutions in Romania. At 25 years old she ran away from the institution where she was living. Many years later, in 2012, she decided to live independently and became involved in the Romanian inclusion movement, founding the Ceva de Spus Association, which now is an Inclusion Europe’s member. Alina is a psychologist working as a support person at Ceva de Spus Association, in Timișoara, Romania.
Pheona Matovu and Micheal Matovu, Scotland (UK). Pheona and Micheal are from Radiant & Brighter, and will talk about engaging with racialised communities.
Theresa Shearer, Scotland (UK). Theresa is CEO of Enable, and vice-president of Inclusion Europe.
Marieta Petrova and Lora Eroslavova, Bulgaria. Marieta is a chairwoman of the Parliament of Self-Advocates, established in 2020 by BAPID. Lora is head of a Centre for Persons with Disabilities.
Ilona Sallai and Tibor Czakó, Hungary. Ilona is self-advocate at ÉFOÉSZ. Ilona writes and edits easy-to-understand texts. She also teaches university students and support persons on easy-to-read, and how to support self-advocacy. Tibor is self-advocacy coordinator at ÉFOÉSZ, coordinates international cooperations, and teaches at university.
Foteini Zafeiropoulou, Greece. Foteini is member of the Executive Secretariat of the National Confederation of Disabled People of Greece (NCDP). She is also the Vice President of the Panhellenic Federation of Associations of Parents and Guardians of Disabled People (POSGAmeA). She is member of the European Disability Forum Social Policy and Inclusion Committee and also a member of EDF’s Women’s Committee.
Tarkan Bashllari and Enron Seiti, Albania. Tarkan studies Political Science. He was co-founder of the Students’ Parliament of Albania. Tarkan is also head of the Albanian Autistic People’s Self-Advocating Group, founded in 2022. Enron works at “Help the Life” Association as a Project Manager. He helped to establish the first Self-Advocacy group of young people with intellectual disabilities in Albania.
Jeanne Nicklas-Faust, Germany. Jeanne is director of Lebenshilfe. Previously, she was university professor and lecturer.
Ellis Jongerius and Joost Blommendaal, Netherlands. Ellis is director of LFB, the national association of people with an intellectual disability in the Netherlands. Joost is manager at the LFB, responsible for business operations.
Fermín Núñez, Spain. Fermín works in the Communication department at Plena Inclusión España, and is responsible for Communication in the ‘My home: a life in community’ project.
Marek Bohuš and Marián Horanič, Slovakia. Marek is one of the group of self advocates leaders that are active on advocacy and promotion of rights of people with intellectual disabilities. He participates on educational activities and workshops aimed on rights of people with disabilities. Marián is vice director of The Association for Help to People With Intellectual Disabilities.
Also contributing to the conference:
- Self-advocates and family activists from Ukraine
- Self-advocates from Albania, Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania, Slovakia
- Experts in fundraising, campaigning who will deliver training sessions on these topics.
- European Parliament with information about European Elections 2024
Big part of the conference is the work of Enable.
Agenda highlights
Tuesday, 7 May Registration opens at 9:00. Some workshops repeat during the conference – participants don’t have to miss on sessions that interest them.
Opening plenary
Workshops (both morning and afternoon:
- Deinstitutionalisaton in Scotland with John Dalrymple and Frances Brown (Radical Visions)
- For stronger self-advocacy in deinstitutionalisation, with organisations from Albania, Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania, Slovakia
- Creating jobs with self-advocacy with LFB Netherlands
- Engaging with racialised communities with Pheona Matovu and Micheal Matovu (Radiant & Brighter)
Trainings:
- Campaigning with Charlie McMillan (Scottish Commission for People with Learning Disabilities)
- Influencing policy with Richard Baker and Heather Gilchrist (Enable)
“Marketplace” exchange Opportunity to share your work, and learn from others:
- Right to vote and right to decide
- Education
Wednesday, 8 May
Plenary sessions:
1. Monitoring inclusion, advancing human rights
- Stephanie Boyce, Scotland
- Milan Sverepa, Inclusion Europe
2. EU disability rights and social policy
- Katarina Ivanković Knežević, European Commission
Workshops (both morning and afternoon:
- Elections in Scotland and the EU with Enable, and European Parliament
- Struggle for rights and inclusion with Inclusion Ukraine
- Breaking barriers with Lianne Williams (Enable)
- PA Model with Enable
Trainings:
- Fundraising
“Marketplace” exchange Opportunity to share your work, and learn from others:
- Education
- Housing and support
- Employment
Inclusion Europe members:
- General Meeting of the European Platform of Self-Advocates
- General assembly of Inclusion Europe
Enable 70th anniversary reception in Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum
Thursday, 9 May
Plenary session: Learning from Scotland’s deinstitutionalisation journey
- Ruth McEwan, Lung Ha Theatre Company
- Session will include selected recorded extracts from Castle Lennox theatrical performance
Closing plenary
- Theresa Shearer (CEO of Enable, vice-president of Inclusion Europe)
- Laszlo Bercse, vice-president of Inclusion Europe
Location
University of Strathclyde, The Technology and Innovation Centre
99 George Street, Glasgow, G1 1RD United Kingdom
