Ending segregation of people with intellectual disabilities is the core of our work at Inclusion Europe. The Together+ project contributes to it by providing a training for those who close down “care institutions”.
The issue
750,000 people with intellectual disabilities are segregated in large “care” institutions in Europe.
“Persons with intellectual disabilities and with complex support needs most likely to live in institutions”, finds a report about deinstitutionalisation in the EU.
What we do about it
Together+ project contributes to resolving these issues by creating a training programme focused on the management of transition from institutions to community-based support.
It builds on the work done in various countries in Europe, bringing in experiences from different NGOs and perspectives on the issue.
Work done so far in the project
Country analysis Organisations from Czechia, Lithuania, Romania, and Slovakia created analysis of their countries when it comes to deinstitutionalisation.
Guide for deinstitutionalisation of people with intellectual disabilities The document covers key steps in managing the transition from institutions to community-based support. There are also examples from various countries, and guidance for how to set up disability support for people with intellectual disabilities to live independently and to be included in the community. Draft of the guide serves for training development. Final version will be updated after the pilot trainings.
Trainings
Training for managing the transition from institutions to community-based support is develop by the organisations involved in the project.
- Original round of trainings is underway during autumn 2024.
- Further trainings will be organised in Czechia, Lithuania, Romania, and Slovakia during first half of 2025.
The trainings are organised in a mixed format, partly in person, partly online.
Platform to develop expertise and collaboration
Connecting those who work on deinstitutionalisation, so they can exchange on their work, learn from one another, and improve deinstitutionalisation in their countries.
This work connects experts in different ways: Both during in-person meetings, online sessions, and also with a new online space which highlights experience and case studies in deinstitutionalisation for people with intellectual disabilities.
Technical information about the project
Project title: Together towards efficient and sustainable transition in social care
Application Registration Number: 2022-1-CZ01-KA220-VET-000085587
Date of implementation: 1 November 2022 – 31 October 2025
Beneficiary: Centrum podpory transformace, o.p.s., Czechia
Project partners:
- Inclusion Europe
- Fundatia de Abilitare Speranta , Romania
- Rada pre poradenstvo v sociálnej práci , Slovakia
- Viltis , Lithuania
The project is co-funded by the European Union.
Resources, exchanges, collaborations to end segregation
Useful documents, tools, and platforms on deinstitutionalisation.
Survivors of segregation in institutiions.
- Survivors’ stories.
- Inclusion International survivors’ network for self-advocates.
Inclusion Europe is member of the EEG (European Expert Group on transition from institutions to community-based support).
- EEG website with events and trainings on deinstitutionalisation.
- Checklist on use of EU funds for community-based support (.pdf)
- Report (.pdf) on the Transition from Institutional Care to Community-Based Services in 27 EU Member States
- Guidelines (.pdf) on transition from institutional to community-based care (more languages)
Inclusion Europe participates in Disability Platform, organised by the European Commission.
- We contribute to the work of the Platform, including on deinstitutionalisation.
- We contribute to the work of sub-group on independent living. The European Commission creates Guidance for member states on independent living and deinstitutionalisation.
Inclusion Europe is part of Deinstitutionalisation working group organised by Inclusion International.
- Members of the group share examples of deinstitutionalisation from around the world, and discuss specific issues.