To improve the quality of life of persons with autism

Autism Europe Aisbl

Autism-Europe aisbl is an international association whose main objective is to advance the rights of persons with autism and their families and to help them improve their quality of life.

Autism-Europe plays a key role in raising public awareness, and in influencing the European decision-makers on all issues relating to autism, including the promotion of the rights of people with autism and other disabilities involving complex dependency needs.

Autism-Europe

Representing people with Autism at the European Day of Persons with Disabilities

To mark the European Day of Persons with Disabilities, the European Commission organised in cooperation with the European Disability Forum (EDF) a policy conference in Brussels on 1 and 2 December. During two days, representatives from the disability movement, experts with disabilities and decision-makers focus on the effects of the crisis: “Europe’s way out of the crisis: the disability rights perspective.” Representatives of Autism-Europe were there to call on access to education and employment for persons with ASD.

For more see the press-release

Budget cuts and financial crisis: Short-term savings equals long-term problems for people with Autism

Amidst the recent budget cuts and austerity measures being implemented in many European countries, people with Autism are suffering significant cuts to the basic services they depend on for housing, health and education. How long can we go on cutting spending on the most vulnerable people in society? Can sacrificing human rights to save money possibly achieve positive outcomes? Autism-Europe warns that the long-term costs may exceed the short-term savings, and meanwhile people with Autism and other disabilities will pay a high price.

Read the full article PDF

Read the full article in EU Reporter magazine, October 2011 edition

European Days of Autism 2011: A call to governments to stop forcing the most vulnerable people to bear the cost of the ongoing financial crisis

During the ‘European Days of Autism’ to be held throughout Europe this October, the European Union and national governments are being called upon to fulfill their recent commitments to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD).

Amidst the recent budget cuts and austerity measures being implemented in many European countries, people with Autism Spectrum Disorders have seen significant cuts to the basic services they depend on for housing, health and education.

In Italy, for example, €10 billion in funding will be cut in 2012-2013 from the regional and local health and social services. These cuts include the cancellation of the ‘National fund for persons with dependency needs’, which will deprive of all forms of assistance to 20% of persons with disabilities living in the north of the country, 30% living in the centre and 50% living in the south, from 2012 onwards[i].

For more, see the press-release.

‘ACEbook’ project helps adults with Autism across Europe to make friends

27/09/2011

Results from a research project have shown that Facebook can be used to help adults with Autism to establish social connections and make friends.

The two-year Autism Connections Europe (ACE) research project (nicknamed the ‘ACEbook project’), has helped people with Autism to overcome social fears, and improve their social and communication skills, moods and level of independence.

The project enabled adults with Autism to meet and form friendships based on common interests through Facebook, and then to meet regularly in person in various locations around Europe, to deepen the friendships they formed online.

Under normal circumstances, many people with Autism Spectrum Disorders find it very difficult to establish social connections and maintain friendships...

For more, see the press-release.

Annual General Assembly – 16 April 2011 – Athens - Greece

Autism-Europe’s Annual General Assembly will take place, on Saturday 16 April 2011, in the afternoon, from 14.00-18.00.

World Autism Awareness Day

2 April 2011

2011 – Autism-Europe celebrates World Autism Awareness Day with a Global Bell Ringing in cooperation with Autism Speaks and NYSE Euronext.

Autism-Europe in cooperation with Autism Speaks and NYSE Euronext highlighted the annual World Autism Awareness Day (WAAD), a day prior to WAAD, and Autism Awareness Month with a global bell ringing across NYSE Euronext markets in Europe and the United States for the second year.

For more information, please see the press-releases.

Videos of IX International Congress of Autism-Europe “A Future for Autism” are online!

The IX International Congress of Autism-Europe “A Future for Autism” was held in Catania, Italy, 8-10 October 2010. Thanks to the participation of 18 keynote speakers, 70 selected speakers and 185 selected poster exhibitors, 1200 international delegates, researchers, professionals, parents and self-advocates were provided with a unique opportunity for updating and sharing knowledge on a wide range of issues concerning Autism.

Autism-Europe considers that it is essential to give everyone access to up-to-date and evidence-based information on autism. We are therefore delighted to announce that videos of presentations of the Congress are now available for free on internet. To access them, visit the congress website: click here

"A Future for Autism" - European Days of Autism 2010 : Autism-Europe calls on a better acknowledgement of the needs of elderly people with ASD

The European Days of Autism were celebrated at the beginning of October 2010 together with the Autism-Europe IX International Congress in Catania entitled “A Future for Autism” that gathered 1300 participants from around the world. On that occasion, Autism-Europe raised awareness about the fact that nowadays persons with autism and their families very often lack the support they need to live a dignified life. As the population is ageing, persons with Autism and their families are faced with very complex difficulties and a lack of adapted services. Action is therefore required to ensure that persons with ASD benefit from the same opportunities as the rest of the European citizens. Evelyne Friedel, Autism-Europe’s President, welcomed the recent innovations in the field of evidence-based treatments and interventions for persons with ASD. Referring to European Council’s Committee of Ministers recommendation on ageing and persons with disabilities, she also called on Member States to take concrete actions to improve the conditions of life of persons with autism – in particular elderly people - and to cooperate at European and International level to promote the exchange of information and best practices.

Read the press release of the European Days of Autism 2010, here.

Fostering employment of persons with Autism

The European Commission has published a Call for Proposals for pilot projects on employment of persons with autism spectrum disorders.

The aim of this call for proposals is to fund projects which develop or test approaches to improve access to and retention in the open labour market for persons with ASD in a practical manner.

The deadline to apply is 19 August 2010. Click here For more information.

EUROPEAN UNION: Treaty of Lisbon - Taking Europe into the 21st Century :

See the website: http://europa.eu

EUROPEAN COMMISSION: Work Programme 2009

See the website: http://ec.europa.eu

EUROPEAN COMMISSION: Non Discrimination and Diversity - PROGRESS 2007-2013

See the webste: http://ec.europa.eu

EUROPEAN COMMISSION: Academic Network of European Disability Experts

See the website: www.disability-europe.net

COUNCIL of EUROPE adopts Disability Action Plan 2006 - 2015

See the website of the Council of Europe

EUROPEAN COMMISSION: People with Disabilities

See the website: http://ec.europa.eu

UNITED NATIONS: Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

See the website: www.un.org

IX Autism-Europe International Congress: "Touches of Autism"

Autism-Europe is happy to announce the parallel event “Touches of Autism”
the V International Art Exhibition of People with Autism.
Organised by Autismo Burgos, the Art Exhibition is a special feature of the
IX International Congress Autism-Europe.

For more information:
http://www.autismoburgos.org/