Include News brings you updates about interesting reports, work done for inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities in Europe, and other stuff that is good to know. Include News is updated with new information during the month. Previous Include News: February 2022
Inclusion as a guiding principle for educational reform in Portugal
From an article by Mel Ainscow, Emeritus Professor of Education at the University of Manchester:
Since 2008, Portugal has had in place laws envisioning the provision of education for all students, without exception, in their local mainstream school.
- Special schools being transformed into resource centres for inclusion, supporting their former students now placed in mainstream schools.
- Instead of categorising students, it supports the idea that all students can achieve a profile of competencies and skills.
- It emphasises flexible curricular models, systematic monitoring of the effectiveness of interventions, collaboration with parents.
- A key feature is the emphasis on collaboration, with a well-established pattern of schools working in local clusters.
As the Portuguese education system moved forward in relation to inclusion over the last two decades, the country has also seen impressive developments in terms of equity.
- It is one of the few countries with improvement in all of the subjects assessed by OECD’s PISA.
- The rate of early leavers from education has reduced significantly.
Go deeper:
European Pillar of Social Rights: Information in easy-to-read
- What are the 20 principles of the European Pillar of Social Rights? (easy-to-read version)
- Here is an explainer on what is the Pillar and how it matters to people with disabilities, and families.
ÉFOES celebrate 40th anniversary.
ÉFOES is an organisation in Hungary: the National Association for the Protection of Persons with Intellectual Disabilities and Their Supporters.
ÉFOES is a member of Inclusion Europe.
Piroska Gyene, president of ÉFOES, said:
- Family allowances, own identity cards, supported housing, supported decision-making, easy-to-understand communication – just a few concepts that everyone in Hungary now knows well in Hungary.
László Bercse, co-chair of ÉFOES (who is also vice-president of Inclusion Europe) said:
- Self-advocacy is key because it gives people with intellectual disabilities a realistic picture of their rights and duties.
- Self-advocates need experience and self-confidence to dare to stand up for themselves and each other.
The European Commission is proposing new law to combat violence against women and domestic violence.
- The proposal covers prevention, protection, access to justice, support, coordination and cooperation between authorities.
- Learn more about the proposal.
Information about this proposal is available in easy-to-read (.pdf).
The European Commission made a video about violence against women.
- Elisabeta Moldovan is one of the women appearing in the video.
- Elisabeta is a self-advocate and activist from Romania.
- Elisabeta says in the video: “All places should be safe
On #InternationalWomensDay, the @EU_Commission renews its commitment to ending #ViolenceAgainstWomen & domestic violence.
A #UnionOfEquality is an #EU free from violence. pic.twitter.com/Nksa7UURSE
— Helena Dalli (@helenadalli) March 8, 2022
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See also: Violence against women with intellectual disabilities
Russia’s war on Ukraine
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