In this brand new, one-day conference, we explore the relationships between autism, gender, and sexuality.

The Annual Convention for Inclusive Growth is an action-oriented platform bringing together civil society organisations and policymakers to discuss how to achieve truly inclusive growth. Its fourth edition will take place in Brussels on 20 May 2019.

Introduction to the European Standard EN 17161 “Design for All - Accessibility following a Design for All approach in products, goods and services - Extending the range of users” and European Commission Mandate 473 on Design for All

At this conference, we will listen to people with first-hand experience on the topic: people with intellectual disabilities themselves and their parents. We will also be hearing form specialists working in the field or doing research. The event will be a space for discussion, for exchanging opinions and sharing experiences of how to overcome certain barriers and worries. We hope that 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.

Ensuring inclusion of persons with disabilities in a changing world through the implementation of the CRPD

This side-event will discuss, from both an academic and an experiential point of view – including through 2 panellists who would be speaking both as researchers and as autistic mothers – the experiences of autistic mothers in areas related to parenthood: pregnancy, childbirth and the postpartum period, self-perception of parenting strengths and weaknesses, communication with professionals in relation to one's child, and the social experience of motherhood, including disclosing one’s diagnosis of autism in parenting contexts.

The Conference is the final mutual learning event of a cycle of capacity-building seminars aimed at improving the capacity of the actors at local, regional and national levels to develop measures supporting the transition from institutional to community-based services, using EU funding instruments. The Conference will also share existing European practices in the area of independent living and community-based care. Finally, the Conference aims at improving the understanding of the European Commission and other stakeholders of the progress towards deinstitutionalisation and its main challenges. The participants will identify and exchange information on practical examples on implementing the Common European Guidelines on the Transition from Institutional to Community-based Care, using European Structural and investment Funds (ESIF) and other EU funding instruments.