Global Careers for Persons with Disabilities – Online Event
2020-12-03 | Online
Bringing international public sector organisations and Persons with Disabilities together during the International Day of Persons with Disability.
Following the great success of the first Global Careers for Persons with Disabilities event in October, Global Careers is teaming up once again with major international organisations to host their flagship recruitment event while celebrating the International Day of Persons with Disability on 3rd December 2020.
You can join this exciting online event from the comfort of your home or office. Just use your web browser and internet connection and you can engage with international employers – enabling you to explore a wealth of careers opportunities.
A full list of participating organisations will soon be available here.
Candidate Registration

Mind the Gap: The need for an inclusive response to the COVID-19 pandemic
2020-12-04 16:00 - 17:15 (Europe/Paris) | Online
ENIL has organised side events as a part of the 13th Conference of States Parties to the CRPD. The aim of this side event is to focus on the role of organisations of persons with disabilities (DPOs) in contributing to the pandemic response. Areas addressed will be persons with disabilities living in institutions, those living in the community and underrepresented groups. After presenting the main findings of the COVID-19 DRM Global Report, examples of DPO response (i.e. good practices) gathered by the DRM Coordinating Group will be presented. This will be followed by a discussion of lessons learned, to be applied during the ongoing second wave of the pandemic and in the process of recovery. Recommendations made will be placed in the framework of governments’ obligations under the CRPD and the 2030 Agenda.
Click here to register
Click here to view the agenda
Organisers: Permanent Mission of the Republic of Korea to the United Nations, Ministry of Health and Welfare of the South Korea, Korean Disability Forum, European Network on Independent Living

Connecting & Empowering Women Through Immersive Technology
2020-12-06 18:00 - 19:30 | Online
Presented by Women in Immersive Technologies
The event will bring together experts to discuss how virtual, augmented and mixed technology can be used to connect and empower women.
Click here to register
About the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence:
The 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence (25 November-10 December) is an annual international campaign calling for the elimination of violence against women and girls. It is coordinated by the Center for Women’s Global Leadership and mobilises individuals and organisations worldwide around actions to increase awareness, foster discussions and build tools and networks to fight against all forms of gender-based violence. In support of this initiative, the UN Secretary General calls for global actions to increase awareness, galvanise advocacy efforts, and share knowledge and innovations.

Misogyny-Based Violent Extremism And Trends Around Incel/Volcel Communities
2020-12-08 16:00 - 17:30 | Online
Misogyny-based violence is a growing concern in the terrorism and violent extremism sector. In recent years there have been a number of attacks on civilians with misogyny-based motives and increasing links to “involuntarily and voluntarily celibate” (incel and volcel) communities online. There have also been increasing links between these communities with white supremacist and other nefarious subcultures. This panel will discuss current trends around the incel/volcel community, their links to real world harm, and potential areas for further cross- sector collaboration and risk mitigation.
The panel will gather experts on gender based violence to discuss incel/volcel trends and misogyny-based violent extremism, as a means of giving visibility to a morphing and relevant threat that is not yet socialised with wider audiences. We will also discuss how a multi-stakeholder approach to these issues can help mitigate the risk of real-world violence. The event will be livestreamed and participants will be able to submit questions upon registration to the event.
Click here to register
About the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence:
The 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence (25 November-10 December) is an annual international campaign calling for the elimination of violence against women and girls. It is coordinated by the Center for Women’s Global Leadership and mobilises individuals and organisations worldwide around actions to increase awareness, foster discussions and build tools and networks to fight against all forms of gender-based violence. In support of this initiative, the UN Secretary General calls for global actions to increase awareness, galvanise advocacy efforts, and share knowledge and innovations.

Ending Gender-Based Violence Online: What’s Next?
2020-12-10 15:00 - 16:30 | Online
The closing event of Facebook’s campaign around the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence will take stock of the discussions over remaining challenges, best practices and potential solutions to ensure women safety online and offline.
The event will feature speakers from UN Women, the European Commission, the European Parliament, the European Women Lobby and Facebook.
Click here to register
About the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence:
The 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence (25 November-10 December) is an annual international campaign calling for the elimination of violence against women and girls. It is coordinated by the Center for Women’s Global Leadership and mobilises individuals and organisations worldwide around actions to increase awareness, foster discussions and build tools and networks to fight against all forms of gender-based violence. In support of this initiative, the UN Secretary General calls for global actions to increase awareness, galvanise advocacy efforts, and share knowledge and innovations.

Online Conference - "From Declarations to Action: Time for Social Rights!"
2021-03-05 14:00 - 16:00 | Online
As Covid-19 continues to rage across Europe and the world, the pandemic serves as a bitter and stark reminder of the need to invest in our societies and economies to make them more just, resilient and sustainable.
While this need is not new, it is in times of crisis that the European project must prove its validity as a project for the good of all through protecting people, supporting businesses, investing in equality, social progress and economic well-being. Such progress must have people at its centre, and the fulfilment of their needs for care, work, dignity, security and thriving future.
Today, the European Pillar of Social Rights (EPSR) is called upon now more than ever to show in concrete terms its full value. The Action Plan for its implementation must live up to these strong demands by informing recovery and progress with the principles of social justice, investment in the common good, sustainable economy and democracy.
The European Alliance Stand Up for the EPSR invites you to the online conference, involving Europe’s institutions and key stakeholders, to explain what the European Pillar of Social Rights is, why Europe and its people need it and how it must become a reality on which to rebuild our future.
Interpretation will be available in English, French, German, Italian, Polish and Spanish.
The link to the zoom online event will be shared upon registration.
Click here to access the agenda
Click here to register

Policy and Advocacy session: Gender inequalities in care and pay in the EU
2021-03-09 09:15 - 11:15 | COFACE
Gender equality in care and pay in Europe has always been a slow-paced struggle. However, faced with an unprecedented challenge such as the Covid-19 pandemic, unequal structures have even more intensified where women are once again those carrying the greatest burden of families and society. On International Women’s Day, COFACE Families Europe is therefore bringing into focus gender inequality in care and pay through a European expert seminar.
Different reports have stated that during the pandemic of Covid-19 the gender care gap is on the increase, with women taking up a disproportionate share of additional household and caring tasks, despite the fact that many men have been teleworking as well. Women have also been hit harder economically than men. This policy and advocacy session on gender inequalities is not only needed to shine a light on Covid-19 related circumstances, but is set in a crucial moment of social developments within the EU. The session comes after a year of the adoption of the European Commission’s Gender Equality Strategy (GES), a few months after the EPSCO Council adopted conclusions and guidelines aiming at closing the care gap, and the European Parliament voted its own report on the GES.
The objectives of the session are to:

Connect research, policy and practice of organisations working on gender equality from different perspectives.
Consider ways to strengthen advocacy and policy to close the gender care gap.

Read the full programme here
Register here

Autism and Mental Health Conference 2021- Online
2021-03-11 09:00 - 17:00 | Online
This conference will explore the impact of coronavirus on the mental health of autistic people. It will also address crucial issues around depression, anxiety, sleep, and more. Important updates will be heard and accounts from multiple perspectives.
Attendees will gain from hearing personal insight and practical guidance, and discover advances in evidence-based approaches.
Key topics of the conference include:

Coping with uncertainty and strategies for well-being.
Anxiety and interoception.
Assessment and treatment of mental health conditions for autistic people.

Who should attend:

Clinicians
CAMHS teams
Education professionals
Commissioners and local authorities
Social care professionals
Autistic people and family members

Read the full Programme here
Register here

Workshop on “European Disability Rights Strategy” - Online
2021-03-17 10:00 - 13:00 | Online
There are two rounds to this event dedicated to discussing the European Disability Rights Strategy. The First Round consists of the opening and the following Breakout Sessions:
1) Accessibility and Enjoying EU rights
2) Decent Quality of Life and Equal Participation
3) Promoting rights of persons with disabilities globally, Delivering the strategy and Leading by example
Register for the first round here
The second round consists of a closing and the following Breakout sessions.
1) Accessibility and Enjoying EU rights
2) Decent Quality of Life and Equal Participation
3) Promoting rights of persons with disabilities globally, Delivering the strategy and Leading by example
Register for the second round here
IMPORTANT: There will be two break-out sessions for both sessions. This means you will have the opportunity to participate in two out of the three break-out groups. You will be allocated to your groups on the basis of the topics you have a preference for, as well as your accessibility requirements. Please take care to specify clearly what accessibility requirements you have.

Is Telehealth Accessible for People with Disability? - Online Seminar
2021-03-25 14:00 - 15:30 | Online
The current COVID-19 pandemic has revealed that many people with disability experience difficulties accessing and using telehealth services.
To address this, World Health Organisation (WHO) and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) have initiated the development of a global standard for accessibility of telehealth services.
Join WHO and the International Disability and Development Consortium (IDDC) to discuss challenges and outline concrete solutions that healthcare providers and manufacturers of telehealth platforms need to implement to make telehealth accessible.
Objectives of the seminar
In the light of the above, a seminar will be held with the following objectives:

Discuss the use and potential of telehealth for people with disability
Identify difficulties that people with disability face when accessing telehealth services
Outline concrete solutions that healthcare providers and manufacturers of telehealth platforms need to ensure when delivering telehealth services

Read the Agenda here
Register here
For more information: disability@who.int

Advocating against the draft additional protocol to the Oviedo Convention - Online
2021-03-25 15:00 - 16:00 | Online
Topic: Advocating against the draft additional protocol to the Oviedo Convention: ending coercion in mental healthcare. Online launch of advocacy toolkit
Since 2014, the Council of Europe (regional organisation composed of 47 European countries) and its Committee of Bioethics are working on a piece of legislation to regulate involuntary treatment and placement in psychiatry – the so-called “draft additional protocol to the Oviedo Convention”. This initiative has been highly criticised by users and survivors of psychiatry, organisations of persons with disabilities, other civil society organisations, bodies within the Council of Europe and experts from the United Nations, including the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
Despite the opposition, member states of the Council of Europe have continued to support the work on this draft protocol, ignoring their obligations under international law. A final draft has been approved and will be put for a vote in June 2021 within the Committee of Bioethics, for final adoption at the end of 2021 or early 2022.
The European Disability Forum and Mental Health Europe, together with numerous stakeholders are strengthening efforts to oppose the draft and request the withdrawal of the protocol. At this occasion, they are launching an advocacy toolkit against the draft additional protocol to the Oviedo Convention.
Speakers include representatives from the European Disability Forum, Mental Health Europe, the European Network of (Ex)-Users and Survivors of Psychiatry, Human Rights Watch, the UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, and more!
Objectives:
• Present the latest draft additional protocol and understand why it violates human rights
• Understanding the process of adoption of the draft protocol
• Present the advocacy toolkit and how to use it
The webinar will provide International Sign interpretation and real-time captioning (English). The webinar will be recorded and shared later for those who cannot join.
Register for the webinar here

The Impact of COVID-19 on Residential Care Homes - Why Parliaments investigate and why the EP should, too - Online
2021-03-25 15:30 - 17:30 | Online
The impact of COVID-19 on users of and workers in residential care homes has been hard and tragic. As of 26 January, globally 41% of COVID-19 related fatalities occurred in care homes. In countries like in France, Belgium, Sweden or Spain, one out of twenty care home residents died as a result of COVID-19.
This does not come as a surprise: the care sector was already facing major problems in relation to breaches of human rights, understaffing and a lack of safety protocols before COVID-19. These were known and voiced by trade unions and NGOs long before the current crisis.
This event will show how Parliaments in Europe have used their investigative powers to shine a light on the political failures that caused such tragedy. These investigations are at the core of the institutions’ role, to hold government accountable. We want to highlight that also the European Parliament should step up and use its powers in a similar manner. Only a thorough reckoning with past and present allows us to strengthen our resilience in the future.
EPSU will be streaming the event live on the EPSU FACEBOOK page which you can see here
Click here for more information

Why and how should we prioritize marginalized communities in the rollout of COVID-19 vaccines in Europe? - Online
2021-03-25 16:00 - 17:00 | Online
Public health means protection of the population as a whole and health for all. It is not only a question of fairness, but also failure to vaccinate certain social groups, who are often more susceptible because of pre-existing health conditions or their living environment, has repercussions for the rest of the community.

Join EPHA’s online discussion to explore how national governments and the European Commission can ensure that EU guidelines and national COVID-19 vaccination plans turn equitable access to vaccination into a tangible reality for all in Europe.
Click here to learn more
Click here to register

Autism-Europe's on-demand webinar "I can LEARN. I can WORK"- Online
2021-03-30 12:00 - 13:30 | Online- Zoom
Prior to World Autism Awareness Day, Autism-Europe (AE) will be hosting the webinar “I can LEARN. I can WORK”, as a part of its long-running awareness campaign 2020-2021. The webinar will take place on Tuesday, March 30th at 12:00 (CET) and an on-demand version will be available after April 30th.
Autistic people and their families, autism organisations, professionals, employers, EU policy-makers and the general population are called to take part of this collaborative event.
The first few months of 2021 have seen the release of the European Disability Strategy for 2021-2030 and the action plan for the implementation of the European Pillar of Social Rights. These landmarks to support the rights of people with disability in the European Union will set the pace for our campaign actions, as access to education and employment for autistic people have a strong presence within these instruments.
This webinar will voice AE’s demands and key messages based on common needs across Europe, and will also highlight the importance of:

Having a holistic approach to autism as access to education and employment are linked;
Supporting the implementation of the European Disability Strategy 2021-2030 that supports access to employment and quality education;
Supporting the implementation of the European Pillar of Social Rights and the Work Life Balance directive (an important instrument for carers’ leave) at national level;
Advocating for a EU guidelines on reasonable accommodation, so that all types of accessibility needs are taken into consideration.
Advocating for adequate use of EU funds to support inclusion
Advocating for an adequate response to the COVID-19 emergency that leaves no one behind; etc.

AE is calling autistic people and their families to participate by submitting a short video testimonial to be featured during the webinar. Videos can be submitted until Sunday 28th March 2021 (23:59 CET). More information here.
Download the agenda
The webinar will be in English only.
Register here
*There is a limited number of 500 attendees and interested parties should register as soon as possible.

World Autism Awareness Day
2021-04-02 | Worldwide
On December 18, 2007, the United Nations General Assembly adopted resolution 62/139, which declares that every April 2 will mark World Autism Awareness Day (WAAD). Each year, Autism-Europe works together with its member organisations to conduct campaigns that raise awareness of autism and the rights of people with autism across Europe.

More information

UN WAAD - Inclusion in the Workplace: Challenges and Opportunities in a Post-Pandemic World - Online
2021-04-08 10:00 - 11:00 | Online
The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed and heightened glaring inequalities around the world, especially when it comes to income and wealth distribution, access to health care, protection under the law, and political inclusion. Persons with autism have long faced many of these inequalities, which have only been further exacerbated by the pandemic. It’s a problem made worse by long recognized discriminatory hiring practices and workplace environments that present major obstacles for persons with autism; all of which contribute to the unemployment or severe underemployment of a large majority of adults on the autism spectrum.
The 17 Sustainable Development Goals adopted by world leaders at the United Nations in 2015 provide a blueprint for addressing the major challenges facing the world, including strategies for reducing inequalities that hinder prosperity for people and the planet. One of the aims of Sustainable Development Goal 8 (SDG 8) – Decent Work and Economic Growth – is to promote full and productive employment and decent work for all, including persons with disabilities. Article 27 of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities also recognizes “the right of persons with disabilities to work, on an equal basis with others,” and to a “work environment that is open, inclusive and accessible to persons with disabilities.”
Some employers have recently launched inclusive employment programmes, which accommodate people with diagnoses of autism and related conditions, such as ADHD, OCD, etc., often referred to as neurodivergent persons. Based on the experience gained from these programmes, and motivated by the desire to both be socially responsible and to gain a competitive advantage by benefitting from the skills and abilities of a more diverse talent pool, an increasing number of employers are now creating models to make the workplace and hiring practices more inclusive generally.
The pandemic has undoubtedly impacted the efforts of companies to implement these new models, at a time when the international economy is undergoing the worst economic recession since the great depression, with the loss of hundreds of millions of jobs. At the same time, new ways of working, including remote working and the use of new technologies, have created opportunities for employees on the autism spectrum that previously found it difficult to thrive in traditional workplace environments.
The 2021 World Autism Awareness Day observance will address these issues through a virtual event that will include moderated panel discussions with individuals on the autism spectrum who have themselves experienced the challenges and seen these new opportunities in the employment market.
The event is organized by the UN Department of Global Communications and UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, in collaboration with the Specialisterne Foundation.
As presented at the 2015 UN observance of World Autism Awareness Day, the mission of the Specialisterne Foundation is to leverage knowledge gained from the employment of autistic persons to support the creation of meaningful and fulfilling employment for one million persons, in a world where there are equal opportunities for all in the labour market.
Event Programme Overview
10:00 a.m. Welcome and Opening Remarks
10:13 a.m. PANEL 1: Disparities and Discrimination Exposed by the Pandemic
10:33 a.m. PANEL 2: Ensuring Inclusion as we Build Back Better
10:53 a.m. Closing Remarks

Click here for more information about the event
Click here to register

High-level videoconference on the European Strategy for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities 2021-2030
2021-04-19 - 2021-04-20
The Portuguese Presidency of the Council of the European Union will organize a high-level videoconference on the European Strategy for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities 2021-2030 on the 19th and 20th of April.
One of the main priorities of the Portuguese Presidency is to strengthen the social component of the European Union, aiming at a Union of Equality. For this purpose, it is essential to implement the European Pillar of Social Rights Action Plan, which includes the Strategy on the Rights of People with Disabilities and which is based on the values of equality, social justice, freedom, democracy, human rights and combating all forms of discrimination.
It is in order to reflect on these challenges and on the way forward, that we invite political leaders, European institutions, entities representing people with disabilities, social partners, civil society, people with disabilities and other relevant actors. Based on the new strategy, the debate will pay special attention to key areas that affect the daily lives of people with disabilities, such as accessibility, independent living, deinstitutionalization, community-based and person-centred social services, employment and inclusive education.
The Strategy for the Rights of People with Disabilities 2021-2030, launched by the European Commission on March 3, 2021 and which is at the centre of the proposed reflection can be accessed here.
The provisional programme can be accessed here (this link allows access to the most updated versions of the program until the day of the event). Registration can be done here until April 16th of 2021, with a limited number of accesses to the zoom platform.
The conference will have translation into Portuguese, English, French, German, Italian and Spanish, interpretation in Portuguese Sign Language and English subtitles.

AE's Webinar: The importance of quality Vocational Education and Training for inclusion
2021-04-21 10:00 - 12:00 | Online- Zoom
Following its campaign on access to employment and education “I can LEARN. I can WORK” to mark World Autism Awareness Day (2 April), Autism-Europe hosts the free on-demand webinar: “The importance of quality Vocational Education and Training for inclusion: the success story of the Erasmus+ project ChildIN”. The 2-hour webinar will take place on Tuesday, April 21st at 10:00 (CET), and an on demand version will be available after.
Register now
Autistic people and their families, professionals, associations, policy-maker and other interested parties are invited to take part on this collaborative event about EU Vocational Education and Training (VET) policies and good practices for fostering inclusion of autistic people. The Erasmus+ project ChildIN, of which Autism-Europe is partner, will be presented in detail as a success story.
More information about the ChildIN project
In the first part of the event, a selected panel of speakers representing the disability communities and child (rights/care) and family representatives, as well as other relevant policymakers’ stakeholders in the field of VET, from regional, national, and European level will take the floor:

Lucia Ďuriš Nicholsonová – Chair of European Parliament Committee on Employment and Social Affairs (EMPL).
Ilana Cicurel – Member of the European Parliament
Marie-Béatrice Levaux – EFFE
Camille Roux – COFACE Families Europe
Zuzsanna Konradova – Eurochild

The second part of the event will be exclusively devoted to present the outcomes and the policy recommendations of the Erasmus+ project ChildIN (Training childminders across Europe for inclusion), with partner organisations from France, Portugal, and Poland.

Radka Maxová – Member of the European Parliament
Alain Lassus – President of Conseil départemental de la Nièvre, France
Rui Pena – Cooperativa Comenius, Portugal
Aurélie Baranger – Autism-Europe
Nadège Turco – IPERIA l’Institut
Beata Traczewska-Skóra – Techpal, Poland
Gloria Ortiz – IPERIA L’Institut

Download the programme

INSAR 2021 Virtual Annual Meeting
2021-05-03 08:00 - 2021-05-07 17:00 | Online
The INSAR Annual Meeting (formerly IMFAR) is an annual scientific meeting, convened each spring, to exchange and disseminate new scientific progress among autism scientists and their trainees from around the world.
The aims of the meeting are:

Promote exchange and dissemination of the latest scientific findings and to stimulate research progress in understanding the nature, causes, and treatments for autism. Research on autism involves sophisticated behavioral and biological approaches. Autism affects people’s functioning in virtually every domain, requiring interdisciplinary research collaboration to gain comprehensive knowledge of the disorder.
Foster dialogue among autism scientists across disciplines and across methods.
Advance the training and development of new autism scientists by supporting the inclusion of postdoctoral and predoctoral trainees as well as junior faculty who are already working in autism research. The opportunity for trainees and junior faculty to interact with established autism scientists will foster the creativity and productivity of those at all levels.
Cultivate diversity among autism scientists by encouraging attendance and supporting access to the meeting for scientists and trainees from members of traditionally underrepresented groups, including those from ethnic minority groups, and those with disabilities.

Given the complex biological and behavioral nature of autism, interdisciplinary training and ongoing mentoring of new scientists and promising graduate students is necessary to recruit talented young people in autism research.
INSAR seeks to provide them with the motivation and mentoring needed to focus a career on autism and related developmental disorders.
Having an annual interdisciplinary meeting focused on scientific progress in understanding and treating autism provides an unparalleled opportunity for recognizing, supporting, and motivating talented graduate students and postdoctoral fellows into a career in autism research.
2021 Meeting
Full content that was planned for the hybrid event will be offered virtually. Keynote presenters have been confirmed and will be announced in upcoming weeks. The program will include Invited Panels again this year and abstract notifications for Panel, Oral and Poster presentations will be sent out in March 2021.
More information and registration here (early bird registration ends April 15)

Flagship Conference 2021 - Online
2021-05-04 08:00 - 2021-05-05 17:00 | Online
The 2021 Flagship Conference will take place in collaboration with the Portuguese Government in the framework of the Portuguese Presidency of the Council of the European Union – ahead of the EU Social Summit taking place on 7 May in Porto (Portugal). The Flagship Conference will serve as an opportunity to develop key recommendations to Heads of State and Government and EU decision-makers present at the Social Summit.
The COVID-19 pandemic has had and will continue to have a devastating impact on all areas of peoples’ lives, which will take years to overcome. Moreover, people in the most vulnerable situations have suffered disproportionately as a result of COVID-19 and the measures taken to contain the pandemic. The pandemic has truly exposed the fragility of our socio-economic governance systems and how they must be more resilient to protect the most vulnerable in our societies. It has exacerbated the inequalities and disparities that people across Europe are experiencing in many areas of life, such as education, training and employment; social protection; access to services including health care, long-term care and social services.
The Conference will focus on the different ways that the European Union should lead its recovery process and reinforce the social dimension that must be at the heart of any solution to build a socially just and inclusive society for all, which is resilient to future crises.
Aim:
The Flagship Conference is the annual forum of civil society organisations advocating for social justice and participatory democracy, together with representatives of EU institutions, EU Member States and other stakeholders. It aims at:

identifying the challenges of the current EU’s socio-economic governance models, advocating for better coordination between economic and social policies, and for structured and meaningful civil dialogue;
developing alternative models and solutions, which are more democratic, people-centred and leave no-one behind;
building synergies and developing strategies between governmental and non-governmental actors to achieve a European Union based on social justice and participatory democracy.

Target audiences:
The Flagship Conference aims to reach out to European and national decision-makers, Social Platform members and their national networks, social partners, academics and other interested stakeholders.
Theme/focus:
The European Pillar of Social Rights (Social Pillar) was launched by the European Commission in 2017. It delivers new and improves existing social rights across the EU, and serves as the EU’s compass to achieve better working and living conditions for all. In 2021, the European Commission will launch its Action Plan on the implementation of the Social Pillar. Social Platform and its membership have been advocating for the comprehensive and ambitious implementation of the Social Pillar. Our 2021 Flagship Conference will focus on the role of the Action Plan in supporting Europe’s social recovery.
More information about the conference here

Global & European Trends of Deinstitutionalisation for Children Eurochild’s expert forum
2021-05-19 17:30 - 19:00 | Online- Zoom
Eurochild and Martin James Foundation will run the ‘Global & European Trends of Deinstitutionalisation for Children’ session at DJHT, the biggest child & youth welfare summit in Europe organised by Eurochild member AGJ.
Since 1964 the Child and Youth Welfare Association (AGJ) organises a DJHT every three or four years. Attendance is free of charge. This three-day event is attended by around 30,000 experts and other interested individuals from all over Germany and Europe to exchange opinions, experiences and strengthen networks.
This expert forum aims to provide a space for leading experts and practitioners to discuss developments towards family-based care and reflect on researches, experiences and practices in the EU and globally. Taking into account that deinstitutionalisation is one of the funding priorities of the EU funds 2021-27 for all Member States. Moreover, the European Child Guarantee Recommendation will address the needs of children in adversity.
To learn more see the agenda
The European programme provides an overview of all events and exhibitors.
Speakers

Charles H. Zeanah, M.D., Professor of Psychiatry and Pediatrics, New Orleans University, USA;
Galina Markova, Know-how Centre for Alternative Care for Children, New Bulgarian University, Bulgaria;
Katarina Ivanković-Knežević, Director for Social Affairs & Inclusion, DG EMPL, the European Commission;
Benjamin Strahl, University of Hildesheim, Institute for Social Pedagogy and Organizational Studies, Germany;
Carolin Ehlke University of Hildesheim, Institute for Social Pedagogy and Organizational Studies, Germany;
Katharina Höffken, a member of Careleaver e. V. and social worker, Germany.

Moderators

Jana Hainsworth, Secretary General, Eurochild, Belgium;
Justin Rogers, CEO, Martin James Foundation, the UK.

Autism-Europe's General Assembly 2021 - Cracow
2021-06-19 - 2021-06-21 | Q Hotel Plus Kraków, Wygrana 6, 30-311, Kraków, Poland

Lessons from COVID-19: How can we make our health systems more resilient?
2021-09-30 14:30 - 16:00
Register here
The COVID-19 public health crisis has highlighted that the EU and Member States need to do more regarding preparedness and response planning for epidemics and other serious cross-border health threats.
The pandemic has revealed the lack of medical countermeasure stockpiles at EU and Member State level and the vulnerability of EU supply chains for critical medical countermeasures. It has also highlighted the lack of a coordinated and systematic EU-level approach to support the development, production, procurement and purchase of necessary vaccines, therapeutics, diagnostics as well as personal protective equipment (PPE) and medical devices.
In her 2020 State of the Union address, EC President von der Leyen called on Europe to draw lessons from the current crisis and build a European Health Union. In November 2020, the Commission put forward a set of proposals to strengthen the EU’s health security framework and reinforce the crisis preparedness and response role of key EU agencies.
The pandemic has also accelerated the digital transformation of healthcare, and boosted innovation in how patients can receive care. “A Europe fit for the digital age” is one of the six political priorities of the Commission 2019-2024, and the EU is working on a digital transformation of health and care.
What else can the EU and Member States do to make our health systems more resilient? Join this EURACTIV Virtual Conference to discuss the lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic and how our health systems can adapt and become more resilient. The likelihood of another global pandemic in the next 20 years is a reality. Whenever it may come, there will be no excuse for a lack of forward planning.
DATE AND TIME
September 30, 2021
2:30 PM – 3:45 PM (CET)

Autcamp event in Rome
2021-10-08 - 2021-10-09
AUTCAMPT EVENT IN R0ME
About AUTcamp, the organizer is Neuropeculiar, it is not my association but my association is supporting and funding this event, I attach a flyer: it is organized from autistic community for autistic community, following the model of Autreat, Autscape, Autminds, etc. It is the fourth year now. This year in Sapienza University, topics about community, self-advocay, inclusion.
We will count with the intervention of Heta Pukki from Finland, President of EUCAP. The event will be available also online in Neuropeculiar’s Youtube channel.
More information about AUTcamp here

EMentH – Early Childhood Mental Health International Conference
2021-11-12 - 2021-11-13
EMentH – Early Childhood Mental Health International Conference
EMentH 2021 International Conference is dedicated to Autism in Infants and Toddlers. It brings together world-renowned experts in the field of early childhood mental health. We will address early detection, assessment and intervention of children with autism.
HERE you can find a preliminary speakers list, including dr. Sally Rogers (co-founder of the ESDM model), dr. Hanna Alonim (founder of Mifne Center), dr. Pamela Wolfberg (founder of IPG models) and others.

AE's Council of Administration meeting
2021-11-16 - 2021-11-17 | Online

2021 European Forum for Disaster Risk Reduction
2021-11-24 08:00 - 2021-11-26 17:00 | Matosinhos, Portugal, Portugal
EUROPEAN FORUM FOR DISASTER RISK REDUCTION
The European Forum for Disaster Risk Reduction (EFDRR) forms the regional platform structure of Europe. The triennial EFDRR has established itself as an important vehicle to address the regional disaster risk challenges. It serves as a forum for other stakeholders to take a shared responsibility and make actionable commitments to reduce disaster risk. The conference, true to the multi-stakeholder spirit of the Sendai Framework, enables governments and stakeholders to exchange experiences on successful practices and innovative approaches to prevent, reduce and manage disaster risk. This results in forward looking action plans based on a mutual sharing status of DRR implementation.
The EFDRR has been instrumental in tackling new areas such as sustainable finance as well as creating innovative ways to address challenges, including for example peer review processes and stress testing systems. The EFDRR secretariat, chaired by UNDRR, the European Commission and the Council of Europe facilitates stronger collaboration and coherence across the partners.
The outcomes of EFDRR forum are included in the United Nations Secretary General’s report to the General Assembly, in the deliberations at the High Level Political Forum in New York and at the Global Platform on Disaster Risk Reduction.
EXPECTED OUTCOMES

Good practices and knowledge on disaster risk-informed policies, programmes and investments are shared, with a particular focus on lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic and the following recovery;
Partnerships are forged for increased disaster resilience;
Progress is assessed in the implementation of the Sendai Framework for DRR in the region.
The integration of disaster risk management in relevant sectors, particularly the health sector, is promoted for longer term resilience;
Contributions to the follow-up processes of United Nations conferences and summits are made.
Establish a common understanding of the common challenges and immediate threats in Europe
Agree on a joint future vision of a disaster resilient European and Central Asian region in 2030
Adoption of the 2021-2030 EFDRR RoadMap

The 2021 EFDRR will be structured along a threefold approach. It will, 1.) take stock of lessons from COVID-19 crisis, showcasing good practices in Europe, and Europe’s role in the world; 2) review progress to date in implementing the Sendai Framework and articulate what changes are needed for a transformative agenda on disaster risk reduction; across the pillars of economic recovery, good governance and for social equity; and 3) commit to ensuring that a disaster impact is never again so severe as the COVID-19 pandemic, articulating new commitments to achieve deliver greater resilience in Europe.
The key outcome documents would include:

2021-2030 EFDRR Roadmap – The EFDRR Roadmap forms the basis for coordinated implementation of Sendai Framework for DRR and related SDGs targets until 2030.
Stakeholder Declaration – Heads of the national delegations and practitioners responsible for disaster risk reduction within the region will agree on a Stakeholder Declaration that highlights main issues considered during the EFDRR and proposes way forward.
High-level Communiqué – At the High-Level Roundtable, participants endorse focus areas and actions for the EFDRR Road Map implementation.

More information here

TUT4IND
2021-11-25 14:00 - 17:00
Transforming universities in an inclusive environment for people with intellectual disability
Project TUT4IND “Training University Teachers for the Inclusion of students with Intellectual disabilities” is an Erasmus+ project (2019-1-ES01-KA203-065823) that aims to develop a curriculum, for the acquisition of needed skills by university teachers and lecturers in order to attend the potential competences of their students with intellectual disability, but also to enhance their inclusion into society.
Target audience:
The conference is aimed at higher education teachers and professionals, teachers of students with intellectual disabilities, professionals supporting students with intellectual disabilities in their academic career and transition to higher education, policy makers, and everyone else with an interest in this topic!
Targets:
The main goal of the conference is to disseminate the outcomes and results of the TUT4IND project, more precisely the white paper, the developed training course for teachers and the virtual learning environment that has been created for teachers in higher education to learn more about the needs of students with intellectual disabilities in higher education. Another goal of the conference is again to raise awareness for the inclusion of students with intellectual disabilities in higher education.
More information and the programme here

European Day of Persons with Disabilities
2021-12-02 - 2021-12-03 | Online
Programme and information to be published

IPA 2: Inclusion of people with autism in Europe. Improving scholar transitions from primary to secondary school
2022-02-25 14:00 - 16:00
The objective of this multiplier event to be held online on 25th February from 14.00 to 16.00 CET is to present the results of the IPA2 project.
This Erasmus+ project aims at decreasing difficulties that students on the autism spectrum face, specifically during the transition from primary to secondary school, in order to tackle early school leaving and disadvantage. Funded by the European Commission, the outputs of this project target both teachers, and autistic students and their peers in order to implement prevention measures and reduce risks of social exclusion, school failure, and school dropout.
We are glad to count with the participation of guest speaker Dr Ruth Moyse (AT-Autism) that will share results of her research on understanding persistent absenteeism from the perspectives of autistic adolescent girls who stop attending school .
You can check the agenda here
Register for this event here
