Programme of Europe in Action 2017: Love, life and friendship

Finding friends and partners is important for everyone’s wellbeing. However, people with an intellectual disability often face difficulties when establishing such relationships. Their families, on the other hand, might have hopes but also fears when it comes to this issue.

At the conference, we will listen to people with first-hand experience on the topic: people with intellectual disabilities themselves and their parents. The event is a space for discussion, for exchanging opinions and sharing experiences of how to overcome certain barriers and worries.

Through the diversity of speakers, the conference will be a good opportunity for opening up new perspectives, raising awareness of the importance of these themes, and for potential cooperation.

Final print version of the programme

Wednesday 31 May
Accompanying events are not part of the Europe in Action conference

09.30 – 10.30	Roundtable on the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities – open to all interested parties, only in English Seminar on the Safelabs project – open only for entries through SPMP ČR, only in Czech
10.30 – 10.45	Break
10.45 – 12.30	Roundtable on the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities, Safelabs Seminar, Steering Committee of  the European Platform of Self-Advocates (EPSA) (on invitation only)
12.30 – 14.30	Lunch
14.30 – 16.30	Roundtable on the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities Meeting of self-advocates from abroad – open to all interested parties, only in English Meeting of self-advocates from the Czech Republic – open to all interested parties, only in Czech Finance Committee Inclusion Europe (on invitation only)
16.30 – 17.00	Break
17.00 – 19.00	Inclusion Europe Board meeting (on invitation only)

Thursday 1 June
Europe in Action 2017: Love, life and friendship

10.30 – 11.45	1. Cultural Programme: Children’s welcome to Prague2. Welcome Maureen Piggot – Inclusion Europe president Senada Halilčević – Inclusion Europe vice president, EPSA chair Ivana Ambrosová – Inclusion Czech Republic president Jan Hamák – self-advocate, Czech Republic Václav Krása, National Council of Persons with Disabilities Czech Republic3. Inclusive education: the key to forming relationships (presentation) Jody Carr, Inclusive Education Canada 4. Introductory debate: Relationships and public policy Tania Tsiora – DG Employment, European Commission David Beňák –  Deputy Minister for Human Rights and Equal Opportunities, Czech Republic Jody Carr, Inclusive Education Canada
11.45 – 12.00	Break
12.00 – 12.55	On relationships 1. People around me and why they are important to me – Ellen Goodey, Mencap, UK 2. No man is an island, only on his own – Jan Paleček and Jan Paleček (father and son), Czech Republic 3. Questions and answers
12.55 – 14.15	Lunch
14.15 – 15.30	Workshops 1 – On love and friendship 1. On the road: from life in an institution to relationship and marriage – Matúš Kubove and Rozália Horvátová, Slovakia, accessible workshop Prohibited love, the movie Pavla Dohnálková, Inclusion Czech Republic 2. Zuzka and I – Iva Šiková, mother, SPMP Brno, Czech Republic 3. Who am I and who are the people I like – Petr Eisner, Anna Blažková, Inclusion Czech Republic, accessible workshop 4. Leaving an institution – the importance of social relationships in building a new life – Juultje Holla, The Netherlands
15.30 – 16.00	Break
16.00 – 17.15	Workshops 2 – Health and wellbeing – a part of good life 1. My family experience: supporting health care for women with intellectual disabilities   Includes a documentary film – Marie Kotačková, mother, board member of Inclusion Czech Republic 2. How to take care of my own health – Xenie Dočkálková, Zdeňka Miková, Inclusion Czech Republic, accessible workshop 3. Good health (care) for all – Jeanne Nicklas-Faust, Lebenshilfe, Germany 4. Support for woment with epilepsy and with combined disabilities, who want to have children – Jana Zárubová, medical doctor, Czech Republic EPSA General meeting
17.15	End of programme (Day 1)
18.00	Reception

Friday 2 June
Europe in Action 2017: Love, life and friendship

09.00 – 10.30	Relationships 1. Obstacles on our way to friendship, love and partnership – Ilse Achilles, mother, Germany 2. Vlaďka, my life – Štěpán Půhonný, self-advocate, Czech Republic 3. My relationships – Radka Jonášová, self-advocate, Czech Republic 4. Project: Life. Supporting relationships, building the “project of life” – Josep Tresserras Basela, Fundació Som, Spain 5. Questions and answers
10.30 – 11.00	Break
11.00 – 12.30	Workshops 3 – Dating and sex 1. Supporting the sexuality of people with intellectual disabilities – Petr Eisner, Independent Expert on Relations and Sexuality of People with Intellectual Disabilities, Czech Republic 2. Support by in-family services /counselling services – Adrian Margineanu, Doru Jurchescu, Pentru Voi, Romania 3. What women with intellectual disabilities need to be mothers – research outcomes – Jana Bernoldová, Zdeňka Adamčíková, Charles University, Czech Republic How authorities approach parenting by people with intellectual disabilities – Jana Stejskalová, Inclusion Czech Republic 4. Diverse sexualities: Speaking of LGBT – Héctor Santana Sánchez, Moisés Oliva González, Plena Inclusión, Spain, accessible workshop
12.30 – 14.00	Lunch
14.00 – 15.00	Workshops 4 – Safe families – safe friendship, love and sex 1. Rights, consent and capacity in relationships – Senada Halilčević, Udruga za samozastupanje, Croatia 2. Staying safe online while finding/maintaining relationships – Pavlína Mroczkowská, Eva Kremlíková, Project Safelabs, Czech Republic, accessible workshop 3. Life after violence. Understanding the experience of women abused in institutions – Ellis Jongerius and Juultje Holla – accessible workshop 4. How to detect sexual violence or abuse – Martina Venglářová, psychologist, psychotherapist, Czech Republic
15.00 – 15.30	Break
15.30 – 17.00	Supporting healthy relationships, finding and stopping abuse 1. Authorities’ response: parenting by people with intellectual disabilities; prevention and dealing with abuse – Czech Police, Czech ministry of labour and social affairs, Office of the Czech ombudsman  – Milan Šveřepa – moderator  2. How to detect sexual violence or abuse – good practices (conclusions from workshop) – Martina Venglářová, psychologist, psychotherapist, Czech Republic 3. Relationships for those moving from an institution into the community – Elisabeta Moldovan, self-advocate, Romania 4. Questions and answers
17.00	End of programme (Day 2)
19.00	Conference dinner

Saturday 3 June
Europe in Action 2017: Love, life and friendship

09.00 – 10.30	Conference wrap-up 1. Building relationships – the parents’ perspective – José Smits, Secretary-general of Inclusion Europe (The Netherlands), Jyrki Pinomaa, President-elect of Inclusion Europe (Finland) 2. Why it is important to campaign for the right to love and relationships – Harry Roche, Isabel Sanchez, Mencap, UK 3. Questions and answers 4. Conference summary and outcomes – David Towell, UK 5. Invitation to the next Inclusion Europe events – Maureen Piggot, Inclusion Europe, Ivana Vašáková, Inclusion Czech Republic
10.30 – 11.00	Break
11.00 – 12.30	Workshops 5 – Repetition 1. How to take care of my own health – Xenie Dočkálková, Zdeňka Miková, accessible workshop 2. Zuzka and I – Iva Šiková, mother, SPMP Brno, Czech Republic
12.30 – 14.00	Lunch and end of the conference

Saturday 3 June
Accompanying events are not part of the Europe in Action conference

14.00 – 15.30	Inclusion Europe Annual General Assembly – for Inclusion Europe members Inclusion Czech Republic General Assembly – for SPMP ČR members
15.30 – 16.00	Break
16.00 – 18.00	Inclusion Europe Board meeting (on invitation only) Inclusion Czech Republic Board meeting (on invitation only)

Presentations and workshops include

Legal capacity as prerequisite for relationships
Senada Halilčević, Croatia

Social relations – key element for social inclusion, and successful deinstitutionalization
Juultje Holla, The Netherlands

Existing support for sexuality and relationships: progress, challenges
Petr Eisner, Czechia

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