Edf Annual Report 2010

Annual Report 2010

EUROPEAN
DISABILITY
FORUM

European Disability Forum | Annual Report 2010 - 1

TABLE OF CONTENTS
p 4 Who are we?
p 6 Members
p 8 Structure
p 10 Executive and Board Members
p 12 Secretariat
p 14 Finances

p 15 EDF’s work
p 18 Nothing about us without us
p 20 United Nations Convention
p 22 Europe 2020
p 24 Disability strategy
p 26 Transport
p 28 Equal access to goods and services
p 30 Women
p 32 Youth

p 33 Easy to read

This publication is also available in alternative formats
upon request.

This publication is supported by the European
Union Programme for Employment and Social
Solidarity – PROGRESS (2007-2013)

Editorial and publication coordination:
Aurélien Daydé
Graphic design:
Aurore de Boncourt

EDF members: a wide network
54 Full members
29 national councils
• Austria Austrian National Council of Disabled Persons (öAR)
• Belgium Belgian Disability Forum (BDF)
• Bulgaria National Council of People with Disabilities in Bulgaria (NCDPB)
• Cyprus Cyprus Confederation of Organizations of the Disabled (CCOD)
• Czech Republic Czech National Disability Council (CNDC)
• Denmark Disabled Peoples Organisations Denmark (DH)
• Germany German Disability Council (DBR)
• Estonia The Estonian Chamber of Disabled People (EPIK)
• Finland Finnish Disability Forum (FDF)
• France French Council of Disabled People for European Affairs (CFHE)
• Greece National Confederation of Disabled People (ESAEA)
• Hungary National Council of Federations of People with Disabilities (FESZT)
• Iceland The Organisation of Disabled in Iceland (ÖBI)
• Ireland People with disabilities in Ireland Ltd (PWDI)
• Italy Italian Disability Forum (FID)
• Latvia The Latvian Umbrella Body for Disability Organisations (SUSTENTO)
• Lithuania Lithuanian National Forum of the Disabled (LNF)
• Luxembourg Luxembourg National Disability Council (Info Handicap)
• Malta Malta Federation of Organisations of Persons with Disability (MFOPD)
• Netherlands National Disability Council of the Netherlands (VGPN)
• Norway National Disability Council of Norway (FFO)
• Poland Polish Disability Forum (PDF)
• Portugal National Confederation of Organisations of Disabled People (CNOD)
• Romania National Disability Council (CNDR)
• Slovakia Slovak Disability Council (NROZP)
• Slovenia Nacionalni svet invalidskih organizacij Slovenije (NSIOS)
• Spain Comité Español de Representantes de Personas con Discapacidad (CERMI)
• Sweden The Swedish Disability Federation (HSO)
• United Kingdom and Northern Ireland UK Coalition for Disability Rights in Europe (UKCDRE)

25 European NGOS
• Action Européenne des Handicapés (AEH)
• Autism-Europe
• Brain Injured & Families - European Confederation (BIF-EC)
• Cerebral Palsy – European Communities Association (CP-ECA)
• Disabled Peoples’ International Europe (DPI-Europe)
• DEBRA-International
• European Alliance of Muscular Dystrophy Association (EAMDA)
• European Association of Cochlear Implant Users (EURO-CIU)
• European Blind Union (EBU/Union européenne des Aveugles (UEA)
• European Cooperation in Anthroposophical Curative Education and Social Therapy (ECCE)
• European Deafblind Network (EDbN)
• European Deafblind Union (EDBU)
• European Down Syndrome Association (EDSA)
• European Dyslexia Association (EDA)
• European Federation of Hard of Hearing (EFHOH)

6 - European Disability Forum | Annual Report 2010

• European Federation of Parents of Hearing Impaired Children (FEPEDA)
• European Kidney Patients’ Association (CEAPIR)
• European League of Stuttering Associations (ELSA)
• European Network of (ex-) Users and Survivors of Psychiatry (ENUSP)
• European Network on Independent Living (ENIL)
• European Union of the Deaf (EUD)
• Inclusion Europe
• International Federation of Persons with Physical Disability (FIMITIC)
• International Federation for Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus (IF)
• Retina Europe

15 Ordinary member NGOs
• Association Internationale Aphasie (AIA)
• Association de Recherche et de Formation sur l’Insertion en Europe (ARFIE)
• Confederation of European Firms Initiatives and Cooperatives for Psychically Disabled People (CEFEC)
• Design for All Europe (EIDD)
• Eucrea International (EUCREA)
• European Federation of Crohn’s and Ulcerative Colitis Associations (EFCCA)
• European Federation of Associations of Families of People with Mental Illness (EUFAMI)
• European Haemophilia Consortium (EHC)
• European Multiple Sclerosis Platform (EMSP)
• European Paralympic Committee (EPC)
• European Parkinson Disease Association (EPDA)
• European Union of Supported Employment (EUSE)
• Mental Health Europe-Santé Mentale Europe (MHE-SME)
• Rehabilitation International – Europe (RI-Europe)
• Workability Europe (WE)

3 Observer members
• Albanian National Council of Disabled People (ANCDP)
• National Council of Disability Organisations of FYROM (NSIOM)
• National Organisation of Persons with Disabilities of Serbia (NOOIS)

38 Associate members
• Albanian Disability Rights Foundation (ADRF) • Albanian Disabled People Association (ADPA) • Alliance of Associations of the Invalid
Organisations of Macedonia (AION) • Alliance of Organisations of Disabled People in Slovakia (AOZPO) • Associazione Famiglie
Audiolesi (AFA) • Associazione Nazionale Mutilati ed Invalidi Civili (ANMIC) • Associazione per il Tempo Libero dei Disabili (ATHLa
ONLUS) • CBM EU Liaison Office • Confederation of Family Organisations in the European Union (COFACE) • Croatian Union of Physically
Disabled Person Associations (CUPDPA) • Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee (DPTAC) • Ente Nazionale per la protezione e
l’assistenza dei Sordi (ENS) • Epilepsie Euroservices • Equality and Human Rights Commission • European Academy of Yuste Foundation
• European Federation of Hereditary Ataxias (EURO-ATAXIA) • European Ostomy Association (EOA) • Euro Psy Rehabilitation • European
Spinal Cord Injury Federation (ESCIF) • Fundación ONCE • Gelijke Rechten voor iedere Persoon met een handicap (GRIP) • The Guide
Dog for the Blind Association (GDBA) • Hilfsgemeinschaft der Blinden und Sehschwachen Österreichs (HBSO) • Hungarian Association
with Persons with a Mental Handicap (EFOESZ) • Hungarian Disability Forum (HDF) • Inclusion Scotland • International Association for
Handicapped Divers (IAHD) • International Federation of Hard of Hearing Young People (IFHOHYP) • Landmine Survivors Initiatives
Bosnia and Herzegovina (LSNBIH) • Leonard Cheshire Disability • Le Ricochet • National Commission Persons with Disability (NCPD) •
Nordic Federation for associations of Disabled/ Nordiska Handikapp Förbundet (NHF) • Plain-Pied asbl • Royal National Institute of Blind
People (RNIB) • Royal National Institute for the Deaf and hard of hearing people (RNID) • Swedish Thalidomide Society (FfdN) • Union of
Associations of Persons with Disabilities in Croatia (SOIH) • Union of Disabled People in Bulgaria (UDPB)


STRUCTURE

An INCLUSIVE
ORGANISATION

EUROPEAN DISABILiTY MOVEMENT

OBSERVER MEMBERS FULL & ORDINARY MEMBERS ASSOCIATE MEMBERS

ANNUAL GENERAL ASSEMBLY

elects every 4 years

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

elects every 4 years

PRESIDENT
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

EDF SECRETARIAT ADVISORY BODIES


SECRETARIAT
New address !
35 square de Meeus
1000 Brussels - Belgium
Tel +32 2 282 46 00
Fax +32 2 282 46 09
info@edf-feph.org
www.edf-feph.org

Carlotta Besozzizi Janina Arsenjeva Coralia Catana Muriel DaVia
| Director | Policy and European | Internal Communication | Finance Officer
Parliamentary Officer and Campaign Officer

Maria Nyman Nadège Riche Ewa Pawlowska Gabor Petri Ann Vervaecke
| Policy Officer | Policy Officer | Internal | Social Policy | Events Organiser
Communication Assistant
Officer

2011 !
EDF appointed Javier Guemes as Acting Director for


Aurélien Daydé Simona Giarratano Delphine Le Mairee Deirdre Lennon Virginie Niyonzima
| Communication | Policy Officer | Policy Assistant | Communication | Assistant
and media officer Assistant to the Director

Simona Giarratano
Delphine Le Maire Ask Anderson
Welcome Deirdre Lennon Good bye Coralia Catana
Virginie Niyonzima Gabor Petri
Ewa Pawlowska


FINANCES

INCOME

Running costs European Comission Funding 950 000 €

Member’s Contribution 300 000 €

Funding Related to Special Projects 400 000 €

TOTAL 1 650 000 €

OUTCOME

Running costs 1 250 000 €

Speaking with one voice: Deciding Together 300 000 €

Working in Brussels at the Secretariat 750 000 €

Policy work expertise all over Europe 110 000 €

Disability awareness everywhere 50 000 €

Special projects 400 000 €

TOTAL 1 650 000 €


2010
EDF’s WORK less talk, more action


A word from the President
In 2010, the European disability movement made great achievements:

First, the UN Convention has finally been concluded by the EU under the Belgian Presidency:
this is a landmark victory for the whole disability movement. Such an achievement is
a collective success and will clearly have a positive impact on our lives as European
citizens.

Then, we presented the Disability Pact to all key decision makers, and made sure the
European Commission answered with a strong disability strategy 2010 - 2020. Following
the framework of the Disability Pact is the best way for the EU Institutions to implement
the UN Convention in Europe. However, the success and effectiveness of these will greatly
depend on how the aftermath of the late economic crises is dealt with.

For years we have been fighting for a better accessibility in transport. After the adoption
of the regulation on air passengers back in 2006, we are proud to announce the adoption
of the new bus and boat passenger’s regulation. This final step will significantly improve
the lives of most of persons with disabilities travelling through the EU.

We still have to make sure disability is also a priority in the Europe 2020 strategy. And that
the EU institutions will include us in all the relevant decision-making processes, especially
when it comes to the implementation of the UN Convention.

Read on and find out more about how the disability movement challenges the status quo
and fights for a society that includes us, a society that includes everyone.

Yannis Vardakastanis


NOTHING ABOUT US WITHOUT US p 18 UNITED NATIONS CONVENTION p 20
EUROPE 2020 p 22 Disability Strategy p 24 TRANSPORT p 26
EQUAL EQUAL ACCESS TO GOODS AND SERVICES p 28 Women p 30 YOUTH p 32


NOTHING ABOUT US
WITHOUT US
Our meetings in 2010 helped to keep disability rights at the top
of the European agenda.

In 2010, we met face to face with key decision makers
to make sure disability is one of their top priorities.

We want disability to be included in all policies.

We STILL want THE EU TO SET UP
• The State of the Union on Disability
• The European Parliament of persons with disabilities

2010 • EDF’S WORK

We met with
• Herman Van Rompuy
President of the European Council
• Jerzy Buzek
President of the European Parliament
• Viviane Reding
Vice-President of the European Commission; Commissioner for Justice,
Fundamental Rights and Citizenship
• László Andor
Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion
• Andris Piebalgs
Commissioner for Development
• Nikiforos Diamandouros
European Ombudsman
• Emil Boc
Prime Minister of Romania
• Her Majesty Queen Sofía of Spain
• Trinidad Jiménez
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation
• Mihail Seitan
Romanian Minister of Social Protection

We workED with key institutions
European Commission - European Parliament - European Economic and Social Committee - Council of
the EU - European Council - Council of Europe - United Nations - International Labour Organisation -
Fundamental Rights Agency


UNITED NATIONS
CONVENTION
on the rights of persons with disabilities

The first international treaty specifically aimed at improving the lives
of 650 million persons with disabilities worldwide.

This is the first time that the EU has joined
an international human rights convention.

Since the adoption of the Convention by the United Nations in 2006,
our main goal has been to ensure that the EU fulfils its obligations.
This accession happened at the end of 2010, making the protection
of the human rights of persons with disabilities part of EU law.

* A landmark achievement


WHAT WE ACHIEVED IN 2010 WHAT WE WANT
FROM THE EU
EDF made sure • a strong
That the EU kept disability high on its agenda: focal point in
• at the public hearing on the accession of the EU to the Convention the European
with the European Parliament at the Subcommittee on Human Rights Commission
• at the Informal meeting of EU Ministers on disability in Zaragoza, Spain
with the Members States • the existing
• at the Disability Action Plan Co-ordination Forum (CAHPAH) High Level Group
with the Council of Europe to evolve into
a Disability
Committee
EDF organised including persons
• the symposium on reasonable accommodation at the workplace with disabilities
with European Foundation Centre
• the conference: the UN Convention – A European perspective • an independent
with the University of Maastricht European
• the work forum on the mechanisms that need to be established to make monitoring
the rights protected by the Convention a reality for all mechanism
with the Belgian Presidency and the European Commission to oversee the
implementation of
the Convention
EDF IS BUILDING A WORLD WIDE NETWORK
The International Disability Alliance (IDA) • the conclusion
• a network of global and regional organisations of persons with disabilities of the Optional
• to promote the effective implementation of the UN Convention Protocol

www.internationaldisabilityalliance.org


EUROPE 2020
Disability is a cross cutting issue
In 2010, the European institutions laid out the steps needed towards smart,
sustainable and inclusive, economic growth for the next 10 years–called the
Europe 2020 strategy. EDF has been working hard to ensure that disability
is mainstreamed amongst the policies proposed by this new strategy.

We believe that the strategy’s objectives of
• reducing poverty by at least 20 million
• reaching an employment rate target of 75%
• reducing the share of early school leavers to less than 10%

can only be reached if persons with disabilities who represent
approximately 16% of the population in Europe, are considered accordingly.
In other words, Member States must recognise the economic potential of
workers with disabilities.

In 2010 Member States agreed upon common employment targets
to achieve the overall goal of 75% yet failing to integrate a disability
perspective.

we produced a road map containing advice and offering to support
the Europe 2020 strategy: the Disability Pact.


The European Commission has promised to implement seven flagships
initiatives in the framework of the Europe 2020 strategy.

EDF wants disability to be included in all relevant flagships; education,
employment, poverty, acces to information and research.

Did you know that...?
education employment POVERTY technology
the right to learn the right to work FIGHTING EXCLUSION ACCESS TO INFORMATION

• 18% of all •69% of all •62% of Europeans • 95% of public
Europeans go to Europeans have a job with disabilities are websites are not
University among the poorest accessible.
•29 % of persons in Europe:
• 9% of Europeans Europeans with our income is
with disabilities go to disabilities have a job significantly lower. The Digital Agenda
University for Europe sets out
• We are more than We want adequate the framework for the
• We have two times twice as less likely social protection development of our
less chance of to find a job. to be provided information society for
studying to persons with the next decade.
disabilities who are, We have put our efforts
We want education to on average, at much into incorporating the
be inclusive to ensure higher risk of being accessibility requirements
equal opportunities. socially excluded and of persons with disabilities
living in poverty. for a future European
legislation regarding the
accessibility of websites.

EDF and research
Research and innovation benefits all groups in society, including persons
with disabilities. The disability movement and specialised academics are
working together towards an agenda for disability research in Europe.
www.eurade.eu


Disability Strategy
for the next 10 years
We have proposed the necessary initiatives to have the maximum impact
for 80 million persons with disabilities in Europe:

the Disability Pact: a comprehensive framework
for an effective European disability policy
for the forthcoming decade.

We believe that the mainstreaming of disability in general policy
frameworks is the most cost-effective way to create an inclusive society.


The results
The European Commission presented the European Disability Strategy
2010-2020.

Persons with disabilities welcomes the list of actions
accessibility, participation,

equality, employment,

education and training, social protection,

health, deinstitutionalisation

and external action.

the EU needs to improve
• the revision of European legislation; ensuring it complies with the UN
Convention
• the social inclusion of persons with disabilities at European and National
level
• cooperation between the EU institutions: the European Parliament and
the Council of the EU should react to the strategy and support a decision
allocating responsibility to all EU institutions and Member States
• the use of its funds to promote community living.


TranSport
should be accessible to all
The Treaty of the European Union ensures freedom of movement for all
citizens. Yet, plenty of barriers still prevent persons with disabilities from
using transport networks.

We are working to improve our plane, bus, train,
boat, taxi and car journeys.


What we achieved in 2010

Rail
EDF worked together with the International Union of Railways and the
European Commission on the implementation of the regulation on rail
passenger rights in order to ensure equal opportunities for rail passengers
with disabilities.

Air passengers
Discrimination towards passengers with disabilities still occurs despite
strong legislation. EDF addressed the main difficulties through its
contribution to the consultation of the European Commission on the
implementation of the regulation on the rights of air passengers. We
contributed to all meetings with key stakeholders at European level.
Most importantly, we provided ongoing support to members who were
victims of discrimination.

Boat and Bus passengers
We actively lobbied the European Commission to make sure the new bus
and boat passenger’s regulations fully includes a disability perspective.
A positive maritime passenger law has been adopted.
A proposal for a regulation on the rights on bus and coach passenger has
been proposed.

Taxi
EDF teamed up with the International road Union to initiate a campaign to
train taxi drivers’ awareness of disability to accomodate customers with
special needs.

Car
EDF worked on increasing the use of the ‘disability parking card’ across the
EU.


EQUAL ACCESS
TO GOODS AND SERVICES
in the European Union
The Internal Market must be accessible to disabled people. By taking into
consideration the needs of users with disabilities, legislation supported by
standardisation encourages equal access and avoids exclusion.

Standards impact on the daily lives of persons with disabilities, in access to
urban environments, information and communication technologies and in
improving the design of consumer products.

A strong European Accessibility Act planned
for 2012 will set standards. It is one of the KEY
solutions to equal access.

We also focused on access to information technologies.


Key partners
ANEC
the European Consumer Voice in Standardisation

AGE
AGE Platform Europe is a European network representing
people aged 50+ within the EU

Access city Award
Based on EDF members’ idea, the European Commission
rewarded those cities which made the most efforts on
accessibility. The Spanish city of Avila won the European
Award for Accessible Cities 2010.

FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT
Are you free enough?
The disability movement decided to focus on
freedom of movement in 2011.
We urge the EU to adopt:

• a strong European Accessibility Act
• the European Mobility Card


WOMEN
We work to prevent violence against women and girls with disabilities.

• With the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating
violence against women and domestic violence: EDF worked together with
the European Women’s Lobby to submit a series of amendments.
The priority was to include forced abortion and forced sterilization as acts
of violence.

• For a stronger EU Strategy: 21 September 2010: the European
Commission releases the Strategy towards equality between women
and men 2010-2015.

Key partnerships
EDF is member of EWL.


Did you know that...?

• 16% of women have a disability in Europe.

Discrimination
Forced Sterilisation
Women with
“When I realised that my uterus
disabilities
was removed at the age of 15
face multiple
I felt like less of a woman”
forms of
discrimination;
Many testimonies of women with disabilities,
primarily women with intellectual impairments
they are at the or psychosocial disabilities show a hidden reality
intersection of gender for many girls and young women across Europe.
and disability, which They are still being deprived of their right to
causes even more found a family and to their bodily integrity.
disadvantages and
discrimination.


YOUTH
Activists 2.0
In 2010, EDF focused on improving the participation of
young people with disabilities within the movement.

we want to Improve the participation of the new
generation in the European disability movement to continue the fight
against discrimination on the basis of disability.

EDF Youth Committee lead a European survey, produced
expert analysis and issued its recommendations on how to engage young
persons with disabilities and build their capacities in order to better involve
them in the activities of EDF and its member organisations.

we encourage young people to get involved in the European
disability movement and become the next generation to take on the fight
against discrimination.

Key-date
October 2010:
EDF Board adopts the EDF Youth Committee Recommendations in order
to increase the participation of young persons with disabilities in Disabled
People Organisations


easy to read
Easy-to-read is one of the accessible information formats along with large print,
Braille and audio recordings. It is mostly used by people with intellectual disabilities,
as well as other groups like older people and speakers of other languages.
Sentences are short and simple, using words which are easy to understand.
The design is clear and avoids complicated page settings.


p 4/5
EDF
The European Disability Forum represents all people with disabilities living in Europe.
To make it shorter we use the letters EDF
when we speak about the European Disability Forum.

EDF was created by people with disabilities
to defend the rights of people with disabilities.

EDF has existed since 1996.
EDF is the link between disabled people
and people that make laws.

EDF believes that a fair society
includes disabled people.

p 6/7
EDF MEMBERS
EDF has many members.
These are also organisations.
Some of them are big and some are small.

Some member organisations represent a certain type of disability.

On page 6 there is a list of EDF members.
On page 10 and 11 you will find pictures of the group of people
that take decisions for the EDF.
The address and the people working in the secretariat are listed on page 12 and 13.

easy to read

p 14
FINANCES
In 2010, EDF spent as much money as it received.
The money came from the European Commission and the members.
EDF also received some money for special projects.

The money was spent on meetings and many other activities organised by EDF.

p 16
2010
In 2010 EDF focused on some topics.
Here is what E h important people and told them this
EDF also worked with other international organisations .


p 20/21
The United Nations Convention
The United Nations is a big, international organisation.
It suggests laws for countries across the world.
United Nations wrote a law for persons with disabilities
It is called the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

In 2010, the countries of the European Union agreed to use this law.
This is an important step.
EDF wants to make sure that they keep this promise.

In 2010 EDF organised many meetings
To deliver and remind people of this new law,
And help people understand the new law.

The International Disability Alliance, in short IDA,
Is like the EDF but for all the countries across the globe
The IDA watches if each country in the world follows the Convention.
EDF helped to create this organisation.

easy to read

p 22/23
EUROPE 2020
For the European strategy in the next 10 years.
The EU has a new guide for laws called Europe 2020.
it sets out new goals for the year 2020.
These new ideas must include persons with disabilities.

This is why EDF wrote a text
Suggesting how to add a disability perspective
to this new guide.
It is called The Disability Pact.

Here are some facts:
Persons with disabilities do not have the same chances as other people.
Often, they can’t go to university
or they don’t have a job.
Because of this, often they do not have a lot of money.

Access to information:
Nowadays a lot of the information is on the internet.
It is hard to get this information
because the internet is difficult to understand and use.
The EDF wants laws to make it easier.

p 24/25
The disability strategy
As mentioned before the EDF gave law makers
some ideas on how to be more ‘disability friendly’ in the future.
The EDF wants all other laws to be more ‘disability friendly’ too.

The main law-maker in the EU is the European Commission.
They made a new strategy just for disability.
They called it ‘The European Disability Strategy 2010-2020’.
There are a lot of good ideas in this plan.
But the EDF wants all EU and national organisations to follow it.


p 26/27
Transport
People can travel across country boarders.
Disabled people should be able to do this too.
For this, transport in all countries must be easy to use.

There are different kinds of transport:
Planes, buses, boats, taxis and private cars.

In 2010 the EDF helped to write the rules that are made from laws
so that travelling becomes easier.
We are particularly pleased with the new boat and bus rules.

p 28/29
EQUAL ACCESS TO GOODS AND SERVICES
The EU has lots of shops, this is the internal market.

Being able to buy things and having access to this big market
Will help us do a lot of things.
And it will help include us.

In 2010, The European Commission awarded
The accessible cities in Europe.
That was an idea from EDF.

Because being able to move is important,
access to transport is important and
in 2011 the EDF deals with freedom of movement.

easy to read

p 30/31
Women
Disabled people are often left out or treated differently .
Women are often left out or treated differently
simply because they are women.

But women with disabilities are also in danger
because often people hurt them.
Sometimes women with disabilities cannot decide if they want a baby on their own.

EDF worked with a Women’s organization
called the European Women’s Lobby
so that women are protected more.

p 32
Youth
EDF wants to involve young people.
EDF has a team that focuses on this.
EDF hopes that more young people will join the disability movement.


EUROPEAN DISABILITY FORUM
35 square de Meeus
1000 Brussels - Belgium
Tel +32 2 282 46 00
Fax +32 2 282 46 09
info@edf-feph.org
www.edf-feph.org


Edf Annual Report 2010

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