On 12–13 November 2025, the World Health Organization (WHO) officially launched the WHO Disability Health Equity Network during its first in-person meeting at WHO Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. The event gathered the Network’s Foundational Committee, representatives of member organisations, and the WHO Secretariat to set the stage for a coordinated global approach to health equity for persons with disabilities.
Nearly three years after the publication of the WHO Global Report on Health Equity for Persons with Disabilities and following the rollout of the Disability Inclusion Guide for Action in several countries, the Network now provides a mechanism to coordinate efforts worldwide. With 154 members from governments, civil society, academia, and international organisations, it aims to build inclusive and equitable health systems for all persons with disabilities.
Meeting Objectives:
- Inaugurate the Network and establish a shared vision for its impact.
- Align members on the strategic approach of the WHO Disability Health Equity Initiative and define the Network’s role within it.
- Identify priorities to inform workstream plans.
The two-day programme combined plenary sessions and group discussions, focusing on:
- Introducing the Network and its goals.
- Building a common narrative around health equity for persons with disabilities.
- Learning from other networks and member organisations.
- Defining priority actions for the coming years.
Autism-Europe’s Contribution
Autism-Europe actively participated in the inaugural meeting, working alongside global partners to promote inclusive healthcare systems.
To advance equitable access to health for autistic people, Autism-Europe recommends:
- Accessible, person-centred healthcare systems, fully inclusive of autistic individuals.
- Systematic training for healthcare professionals on autism, promoting evidence-based and rights-based practices co-designed with autistic experts.
- Autism-informed mental health and suicide prevention strategies.
- Post-diagnostic support and recognition of co-occurring conditions.
- Robust data collection on the health situation of autistic people.
Strategic Workstreams
Going forward, the Network will drive progress through four key workstreams. Each member organisation is invited to contribute to one or two:
- Leadership on Health Equity
Empower organisations of persons with disabilities with knowledge and resources to advocate for health equity. - Political Priority for Health Equity
Elevate health equity for persons with disabilities as a recognised political priority. - Disability-Inclusive Health Sector
Promote national-level actions to strengthen disability inclusion across health systems. - Indicators, Evidence, and Monitoring
Develop global indicators, generate evidence, and establish systems for continuous monitoring.
Autism-Europe looks forward to collaborating within this Network to ensure that autistic people are fully included in the global health equity effort.
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