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.

The European Accessibility Act is finally adopted! After 4 years in the making we can now take stock and analyse what this new law will actually bring for persons with disabilities. Which products and services are included? What are the obligations on manufacturers? How can you enforce your rights? What will happen next?

The second Flagship Conference will take place during a very crucial time: European leaders will be preparing the next EU legislature following the European elections results, negotiating, nominating and electing the future European Commission and filling in EU top jobs. n particular we will look at: 1. Participatory democracy: How can civil society become the missing link between people and decision-makers?; and 2. Social justice: How to make the economy work for people?

Organised by AE's member AsIAm, the theme of the conference will be "Building Partnerships" - exploring the need for close collaboration between professionals supporting autistic people and between the autism community and professional. Every session will be co-presented by a member of the autism community and a relevant professional, many of whom themselves are autistic.

Friday is a professional development seminar targeting healthcare, education and social care in particular as well as policymakers. Saturday will be our Autism Community Conference.