Early in July, self-advocates from across Europe came to Brussels for Inclusion Europe’s first ever Summer School. It was four days of learning by doing – practising the skills of advocacy.
The interest was huge. As soon as registration opened, every spot was taken.
Over four days, participants worked on:
- What advocacy actually means, in practice
- Their rights under the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights
- How to tell their own story in a way that creates change
- How to speak in public with confidence
- How to use media to get their message out
- How to meet with politicians and decision-makers, and what to say
The Summer School included a lot of cooperation and also going to different places – for example to the European Parliament or other EU-related places.
By the end, every participant had written their own personal action plan for advocacy back home. And it didn’t end there.
New voices, speaking up online
Since the training, several participants have taken a very practical step: they’ve set up their own LinkedIn profiles. It might sound small, but it isn’t. Every advocate who shows up online, under their own name, with their own story, makes it a little harder for the world to talk about people with intellectual disabilities without talking to them.
“I learned how to communicate with authorities”
“I learned how to breathe properly when I’m nervous,” said Šárka Mazurová when she got back to Czechia. “I learned how to communicate with authorities and institutions, and how to approach the people who make decisions about us. I liked that we came up with proposals together for what should change and improve. I also found out how the European Union’s budget works.”
Her colleagues added something that captures what the Summer School was all about: Participants simply telling each other their stories, learning from one another, and becoming friends.
The participants are staying in touch — sharing what they’re each working on at home, and looking for ways, together, to make life better for people with disabilities across Europe.
“Everyone wants to have work and education”
David Režek travelled from Slovenia to take part in the Summer School. For him, the sessions on storytelling and on meeting politicians stood out the most.
“We can say what we want there, and we can turn directly to the person in charge of that area,” he said for the national broadcaster RTV SLO.
Talking with self-advocates from other countries also showed him how much the same goals cross every border. “Everyone wants to gain the right to work and continue education,” he said.
David left Brussels with a very concrete ask of his own: he wants “readers-advisors” recognised as an official profession — because without them, texts don’t get adapted into a format people can actually understand and use.
Next year for family members
The Summer School was organised with co-funding from the European Union’s CERV program.
Next year, we will organised the Summer School again, this time for family members: Together, for full rights and inclusion.