The EPSA Steering Group met in Bratislava, Slovakia on 28 January to prepare the Hear our Voices! self-advocacy conference for this year.
The EPSA Steering Group is elected to represent European self-advocates.
The group members are:
- László Bercse, from Hungary, chair of the European Platform of Self-Advocates and Vice-President of Inclusion Europe;
- Andreas Zehetner, from Austria, who is also Inclusion Europe Board member;
- Oswald Föllerer, from Austria, who is also Inclusion Europe Board member;
- Anna Martínez, from Spain;
- Tibi Chitoiu, from Romania
Illona Sallai and Joachim Busch are co-opted members of the Steering Group. 6 self-advocates from Slovakia also participated in the meeting in Bratislava, as did Soufiane Al Amrani who joined on-line.
The Steering Group discussed what the Hear our Voices! self-advocacy conference should be about this year, and how to involve as many people as possible.
Being Heard, Being Seen
Hear our Voices! self-advocacy conference is organised with the motto “Being Heard, Being Seen”.
It sums up well what the conference looks will be this year – an opportunity for self-advocates from all over Europe to create their own event, contribute to a strong conversation, and be visible in their communities.
How will the conference work?
The Hear our Voices! self-advocacy conference consists of many local events everyone is invited to organise:
- Between 6 and 19 October 2025, self-advocacy organisations and groups are invited to meetings, workshops, and other events across Europe.
- This allows as many self-advocates to participate as possible, without limits of travel or language that come with the usual format of conferences.
Final event of Hear our Voices! self-advocacy conference takes place in Brussels in November, bringing the messages and demands from the local events together.
What will be discussed?
The EPSA Steering Group wants to hear organise the conference conversations around these important topics:
✅ Political participation – the right to vote and be involved, accessible information
✅ Education and Employment – inclusive schools, trainings and skills, fair pay, job security, and access to work
✅ Women’s rights and equality – breaking barriers and empowering voices, women spaces (women-only events during the conference)
✅ Self-advocacy skills – learning to stand up and speak out, organising
✅ Living independently and being included – personal assistance, deinstitutionalisation, social networks and relationships
✅ The right to love and to start a family – freedom of choice in relationships
These topics will shape local discussions before the final event. Self-advocacy organisations and groups can choose one of these topics to focus on with their Hear our Voices! local event.
What are the next steps
The Steering Group and co-opted members will lead outreach across different countries to make sure Hear our Voices 2025 reaches as many people as possible.
💡 Their task? To spread the word, encourage local events, and connect with organisations that can help make this conference a success!
Would you like to organise an event as part of Hear our Voices! self-advocacy conference?
- Let the Steering Group know about your interest with this short survey.