Small group participants sitting around a table and discussing

Topics for future advocacy and research

Central to the meeting was discussion about topics for Inclusion Europe advocacy and research in upcoming years. Some of the suggestions were:

  • Good support for people with intellectual disabilities
  • Advocating for choice, and empowerment
  • Better employment opportunities, and policies to advance access to good jobs
  • Self-advocacy practice, tools, development
  • Situation of young families, parents of young children with intellectual disabilities

Worsening access to support

There was also discussion about how many countries are making it harder for people with intellectual disabilities to access good support. This especially impacts people with intellectual disabilities and their family members from lower-income backgrounds.

Participants sitting in the conference room around a big table and a moderator standing and speaking

Sharing among organisations and countries

Participants shared various initiatives improving support and inclusion:

  • Advocating for better access to the justice system
  • New laws in support of employment of people with disabilities, complemented by new initiatives creating jobs
  • Ensuring public institutions provide accessible information to people with intellectual disabilities, including easy-to-read news
  • Self-advocacy and advocating for deinstitutionalisation

Three participants sitting in front of the table; one of them is speaking and the rest are looking at her with attention

What’s next

Meeting participants also learned about a new report from EDF on legal capacity.

They also planned next steps in Inclusion Europe’s work: Inclusion indicators 2024 report; recommendations for housing; “Hear our Voices!” self-advocacy conference in 2025; and the national advocacy trainings organised every year.

See also: