Provider Forum in Romania 26 October 2014 Tim Ghilain Research & Development Officer

The ‘European Association of Service Providers for Persons with Disabilities’ is a not-for-profit NGO in the disability sector. It represents over social service provider organisations in more than 30 countries in Europe. Objective: Equal opportunities for people with disabilities through effective and high quality service systems in Europe, which are accessible, affordable, available and adaptable 2 Who is EASPD?

Based in Brussels Established in 1996 Membership: +/- 30 Umbrella Member Organisations (UMO) +/- 70 Single Agency Member Organisations (SAMO) Observers Co-operation Agreements 3 Who is EASPD?

Standing Committees:  SC on Education  SC on Enlargement  SC on Employment  The Policy Impact Group Interest Groups:  Interest Group on Person-centred and Assistive Technology  Interest Group on Independent Living  Interest group on Human Resources and Workforce Development  Interest group on Early Intervention 4 Structure

=> INFORMATION => INNOVATION => IMPACT 5 What we do

Why? – Flow of information from Brussels to the local level and vice versa. – Policy work of EASPD to be even more grounded on what is really happening at grassroots level – National lobby work be enriched by the European perspective Tasks? – Collect country-specific information – Spread ‘European’ information throughout the country – Better use the European Semester 6 Local Contact Point

Thank you Tim Ghilain EASPD Av. d'Auderghem/ Oudergemlaan Bruxelles