The training was co-organised by Anffas and Inclusion Europe.
The president of Anffas, Roberto Speziale, and Maria Cristina Schiratti, who is also Secretary General of Inclusion Europe, welcomed participants attending in Rome and online.
Accessible communication and participation
Soufiane el Amrani, who is the accessibility expert at Inclusion Europe and a self-advocate gave a presentation on easy-to-read.
Soufiane explained why easy-to-read is so important for full participation of people with intellectual disabilities.
Daniela Cannistraci and Silvia Sanfilippo from Anffas national organisation introduced examples of their on accessible communication:
- magazine “La Rosa Blu”,
- the project A modo mio to assure consumer protection for people with intellectual disability and more information on products
- and many more.
Participation at European level
The second day started with presentation of accessibility and participation at European level. Helen Portal, Inclusion Europe advocacy officer, explained participation European institutions, and United Nations CRPD Committee.
- For example with contributions for the European Disability Strategy.
- And the importance of making sure self-advocates are represented at conferences at European level. Self-advocates are part of the European Disability Forum’s committees to represent Inclusion Europe. They have a youth committee and a women committee to work specifically on those topics.
Making decisions
Self-advocacy group from Anffas La Torre spoke about the capacity project, which is about making choices “I can choose, I can decide”.
They developed a tool to help people with intellectual disabilities to make decisions.
“I never thought I could do this, but I managed. Then I attended a project to employ young people.
"Soon, I will do exams to have the title of educator. It would be like a social worker.
"I also have more financial stability.
"I am happy, I like being with other people, and I am free to make my own choices.“
Inclusion in the community
The training continued with presentations on different ways of ensuring the right to live independently and to be included.
The training was co-financed by the European Union.