Self-advocates meet in Athens to talk about their lives and their rights.
“I can, I choose, I take part, I say what I think, I am heard.” — Petros, self-advocate from Greece
A national meeting about self-advocacy gave people with intellectual disabilities from Greece the chance to speak up about what matters to them. 69 self-advocates attended the meeting in Athens.
There were 153 participatns in total on 18 and 19 March 2025. They came from many places in Greece – from Athens, Thessaloniki, Crete, Lamia, and Salamina.
"The floor is yours"
“If you are a person with intellectual Disability, the floor is yours.” That's the approach the organisers used for the meeting. And it worked: People with intellectual disabilities spoke up and shared their stories.
During the first day, many self-advocates talked about their lives — their dreams, things they are proud of, and difficulties they face.
"When I lived in an institution, there was a blue light over my bed. That light was my only friend. No one should have to live like that." - Maria Nefeli shared how she used to live in an institution, and how her life changed when she left.
"My whole life became better when I moved to a new place with my friends." - Stavroula explained how moving into her own house with friends made her life better.
"I want to live for myself. My work and playing in a music band make me happy." - Manos talked about his job and his love for music.
"I represent my friends. I listen to them, and I talk about their needs." - Antigoni explained how she became the president at the day centre.
What can make lives better
On the second day, everyone took part in workshops. They talked about their rights and about what can make their lives better.
Workshop about the right to make decisions and take part in politics:
- "I could live on my own if someone helped me with bills and money matters." - Ioanna said she wants to live on her own, but with some help.
- "I think I could be a good MP if I had the help of my friends." - Yannis said he dreams of becoming a Member of Parliament one day.
- "When I voted, I didn’t tell my father who I voted for. I am sure he voted for someone else." - Maria explained how voting makes her feel strong and independent.
Workshop about acccess to healthcare:
- "Only I know how I feel. Doctors should talk to me, not only to my assistant." - Eleni spoke about how important it is for doctors to talk directly to people with disabilities:
There were also workshops about living independently and being part of the community, and about taking part in culture, sports and free-time activities.
More like this
The meeting in Athens was organised by the Panhellenic Federation of Parents and Guardians of People with Disabilities (POSGAmeA) and the association "To Petagma", as part of our UNITY project
The meeting was full of powerful stories, honest conversations, and new ideas. The self-advocates showed they are ready to speak up for their rights, and they expressed a clear wish: This kind of event should happen again and again.
"We had a great time. We want more!" many said at the closing session.
Read also: Previous self-advocacy meetings, organised at local level