Plenty of things happened last month. Let’s get right into it.
European Parliament
“Debating accessibility in the European Union is debating the very quality of our democracy”. There was a debate in the European Parliament about accessibility. Things were said.
The European Parliament adopted a position on affordable housing. This document is important because people with intellectual disabilities struggle to find housing in Europe.
- “Accessible housing is a prerequisite for full social participation of persons with disabilities,” the European Parliament says.
- There is a need to “ensure both the availability and maintenance of accessible housing, as well as the provision of adequate community-based support services;”
- EU countries should “ensure the provision of comprehensive, accessible and systemic community-based services for persons with disabilities.”
There was also an event in the Parliament about loneliness of people with Down syndrome.
We contributed with 2 speeches:
- “We all feel lonely from time to time, but people with Down are more often lonely because the world is not accessible and people treat us differently. That must change.”
- Not only are many people with intellectual disabilities lonely, but their parents and siblings are lonely too.
It was a good event: But we didn’t like how some self-advocates were treated by the MEPs.
More EU news
EU must protect person’s right to decide and their privacy. The EU is working on a new law, which would help countries cooperate when adults were placed under guardianship in one country and then moved to live in another country. But guardianship itself deprives people of their right to decide.
Tamara Byrne was one of 20 young people with disabilities who met with EU Commissioner Hadja Lahbib. Tamara Byrne was at the event to speak up for people with intellectual disabilities.
EEG increases its capacity to advocate for transition from institution to community-based support. Across Europe, an estimated 1.5 million people are still living in institutions. Both the EU and national governments have a responsibility to close these places down and replace them with good housing and community support.
From around Europe
Scottish Parliament passes Restraint and Seclusion in Schools Bill (also known as “Calum’s Law”) to protect rights and wellbeing of children. The law is the result of campaign driven by Calum’s traumatic experience of restraint when he was 11 years old, and led by Beth Morrison (his mother) together with another parent, Kate Sanger, with support by Enable’s In safe hands? campaign.
German TV features Mar Galcerán, Spanish member of regional parliament who has Down syndrome. Interview with Mar Galcerán in Europe for Us.
Free pictograms to improve accessibility of places, offered by Plena inclusión.
15% of mothers of children with disabilities think about self-harm, according to a new report from Ukraine.
Homelessness and disability – new report from Feantsa.
Poland launches Communication Centre for People with Disabilities. It’s a new project, present in different parts of the country. They also published a study about easy-to-read done by PSONI.
From Inclusion Europe
Join us in Vicenza for 3 days of sharing and learning for future of inclusion in Europe! Europe in Action takes place from 25 to 27 May 2026. 4 candidates for Steering Group of European Platform of Self Advocates. The Steering Group are self-advocates elected to lead the work of the European Platform of Self-Advocates. More about the candidates here.
Strengthening disability rights at EU and national levels, supporting self-advocates. Some of our 2025 work for full rights and inclusion.
Soufiane El Amrani is nominated to represent European NGOs in the Board of EDF. If elected, he’d be the first person with intellectual disabilities to do so.
Join online: Using Our Voices for Inclusive Democracy. 7–8 April 2026. People with intellectual disabilities from across Europe come together to share experiences, ideas, and solutions for participation in society and democracy.
Training for self-advocates and decision makers. 14–15 April 2026 in Brussels. Taking part in disability rights advocacy and decision-making at EU level.
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