EASPD Provider Forum – 24 April 2015 Bernadette GROSYEUX Treasurer Welcome everybody

Europe in figures 2 A large, significant and symbolic territory European Continent : 50 countries or territories European Union : 28 countries EASPD : 31 different countries among the members & over 80 million people with a disability throughout Europe

EASPD in brief EUROPEAN ASSOCIATION OF SERVICE PROVIDERS FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES is a nonprofit NGO in the disability sector. It represents over 10,000 social service provider organisations across Europe. EASPD plays a key role on a European level as a representative of disability service providers, working for inclusive Europe. 3

EASPD in Brief  Based in Brussels (BE)  Established in 1996  Objective: Promote equal opportunities for people with disabilities through effective and high quality service systems in Europe, which are affordable, available and adaptable. 4

EASPD in brief 5 Key dates : 1996 : EAPSD’s establishment 2006 (December 13) : adoption of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities by the General Assembly of the United Nations 2010 : presentation of the EU 2020 Strategy 2010 (December 23) : ratification of the UNCRPD by the European Union

Principles 4 A’s:  Accessibility  Affordability  Availability  Adaptability 6

Membership  28 Umbrella Member Organisations (UMO)  71 Single Agency Member Organisations (SAMO)  Observers  18 Cooperation Agreements  Representing over social and health support services 7

Funding Funding comes from :  1/3 : European Union  1/3 : Projects  1/3 : Members’ participation For a total budget of € (2014) 8

3 Pillars INFORMATION Service provision to members: networking, offer exchange possibilities to members at European, national, regional and local level INNOVATION Research and Development: as basis for innovation and improvement of service provision IMPACT Policy-influencing: offering service providers a voice in Europe through – Cooperation – Conferences – Political Representation, – Close cooperation with EU Institutions and the – Council of Europe 9

Methods of Operation Standing Committees:  SC on Education  SC on Independent Living and Inclusion  SC on Employment  The Policy Impact Group 10

Methods of Operation Interest groups:  Interest Group on Person Centred Technology  Interest Group on human resources and workforce development  Interest group on early intervention  Interest Group on arts 11

Political Debates EASPD is involved in different political debates:  The implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights for Persons with Disabilities  Implementation of EU Disability Strategy  Social- and Health services of general interest  Quality of Services  Action plans for persons with disabilities of the European Commission and the Council of Europe  Public Procurement, etc.  EU 2020 strategy 12

EASPDs influences EASPD influences a number of important cooperations:  It holds an observerstatus at the Council of Europe: member of CAHPAH, a panel, which evaluates the implementation of the disability action plan by the Council of Europe)  Member of the liaison group of NGOs with the European Social and Economic Committee  Member of the platform of the European Social NGOs  Seat in the Highlevel Disability Group of the European Commission, DG Employment  Close cooperation with the Eruopean Disability Forum (EDF), international networks and organisations such as Inclusion Europe,  Close cooperation with the European Blind Union (EBU), the European Union of the Deaf (EUD) and AGE Europe 13

EASPDs Conferences 14 The past conferences :  Annual Conference in Istanbul (Turkey), 27 to 28 September 2013: The Employment of Persons with Disabilities: Raising Awareness & Employment Opportunities  Annual Conference in Siegen (Germany), 27 to 28 March 2014 : Challenges and Strategies of Local Implementation of the UN Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD)  Annual Conference in Oslo (Norway), 9 to 10 October 2014: The development of homes and housing services for persons with disabilities, persons with mental health problems, homeless people and people in need of housing support. Working themes: Right to employment Inclusive Education Independant Living Quality of Services Funding of Services Users’ Involvement Person centered technology Good Practices Forthcoming : Annual Conference in Zadar (Croatia), 7 to 8 May 2015 : "Persons with Disabilities in Employment: Inclusion through Jobs – Making it real”

As a conclusion 15 Network is an important way to spread good practices because in the sector of disability we cannot do anything alone, and we have to share our point of views “No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main” John Donne, No Man is an Island, 1624

As a conclusion 16 A few examples of good practices that can be exchanged between EASPD members : -Good practices concerning inclusive education -Good practices concerning work in the open labour market -Good practices concerning empowerment -Good practices concerning deinstitutionalization -Good practices concerning artistic expression -Good practices concerning independent living All these practices depend on context and on the means of each countries, but all of them are dictated by the persons’ needs.

Thank you! 17

EASPD Av. d’Auderghem 63 / Oudergemlaan B – 1040 Brussels Tel – Fax