News

The European Association of Service Providers for Persons with Disabilities (EASPD) has published a briefing paper analysing the current state of the Social Services labour market, in terms of its job creation potential, development barriers, and problem areas where the European Commission should further concentrate its efforts.

An inquiry into the European Commission’s role in assuring respect for fundamental human rights in the earmarking and use of European Union (EU) funding has been launched by European Ombudsman Emily O’Reilly.

More than 240 self-advocates, family members of people with intellectual disabilities and specialists met for Inclusion Europe’s 2014 Europe in Action Conference, which took place in Belfast on 15 – 17 May.

Although causing serious physical and psychological trauma, as well as delayed recovery, face down restraint is still used in the United Kingdom (UK) to constrain people with intellectual disabilities, mental health problem and autism, and not only as a last resort.

Inclusion Europe has published its annual report for 2013, outlining the organisation’s work in support of people with intellectual disabilities and their families during the past year.

The European Commission (EC) has launched a public appeal for consultation on the Europe 2020 Strategy earlier this month. The call for contributions on the implementation and current applicability of the strategy will be open until the 31 October of the same year.

The first case regarding the access of people with disabilities to personal assistance has been brought to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) with Radi vs. Romania.

The European Disability Forum (EDF) is conducting a survey into issues persons with disabilities might be facing when traveling.

Although important steps have been taken in the past twenty years towards the social inclusion of people with disabilities, a report recently published by Scope, a British organisation supporting the rights of people with disabilities, shows that much more needs be done.

Following recent media reports on care-service infringements on the rights of people with disabilities in Belgium, France and Romania, the European Association of Service Providers for Persons with Disabilities (EASPD) is appealing to European Union (EU) institutions to take immediate action in order to address the current situation.