Disabled people across Europe threatened by austerity measures
Sue Bott, our director of Policy and Development, attended a board meeting of the European Network for Independent Living (ENIL) on 13/14 of June at the offices of the Norwegian centre for independent living ULOBA.
As well as practical organisation issues, the board also discussed the affects of austerity measures on disabled people across Europe and ENIL’s future work programme. There was concern on three areas in particular:-
- That independent living is still not widely understood across Europe particularly the right to have choice and control over where we live and what we do
- The reduction in the number of personal assistance hours available and the restrictions on what personal assistants can do
- There are still too many disabled people living in institutions and the danger of ‘community institutions’ where disabled people are living in the community but unable to take part in anything
ENIL plans to raise all these issues with MEPs at a lobby in Strasbourg during four days of activities including a conference on austerity that will be taking place from 9th September. If you are interested and would like further information please contact Sue Bott Sue.Bott@disabilityrightsuk.org
Sue also took part in the annual disability pride parade through the streets of Oslo under the banner ‘Strong, Proud and Visible’. There was a fantastic atmosphere created by disabled people coming together and a beautiful hot day. But underlying it all was a clear message that we should not bear the brunt of austerity and that without independent living we cannot live, work and participate in the community as equal citizens.
