Nothing about us without us…” “

In Europe there are 37 million disabled persons; one disabled out of 10 encounters situations of difficulty in architectural barriers or in social discrimination: 2003 has been dedicated to them. The European Union has declared it the European Year of People with Disabilities. To mark the occasion many associations of the disabled have adopted the slogan “Nothing about us without us”. The opening ceremony took place at Athens on 26 January. We present a brief overview of the aims and events of the Year. Why? The European Year of People with Disabilities is an opportunity to improve the situation of the disabled throughout Europe. Its aims include heightening the awareness of the rights of disabled persons; encouraging reflection and discussion on the necessary measures to promote equal opportunities; promoting the exchange of effective initiatives and strategies at the local, national and European levels; reinforcing collaboration between the parties involved, i.e. government, social partners, NGOs, social services, the private sector, communities, volunteer groups, disabled persons and their families; increasing communication on disabilities and promoting a positive image of disabled persons; and paying particular attention to the rights of disabled children and adolescents to achieve equality in education. According to Yannis Vardakastanis, president of the European Disability Forum, “the European Year will be a unique opportunity to promote the agenda of disability in the EU and combat stereotypes and prejudice” . How? The 12 months of awareness-raising activities and extraordinary funding had as their prologue the “European Day of People with Disabilities” on 3 December 2002. Meanwhile events on the theme of disability are being organized in various countries. The European Commission and the European Disability Forum are the organizers. At the national level, national coordinating bodies have been set up, consisting of representatives of the organizations for the disabled and of government ministries. The Forum has allocated 12 million euros for the realization of events, meetings, awareness-raising activities and research. The Union’s final objective is that of promoting activities at the national, regional and local level, involving disabled persons, their families, organizations, civil society, and the public and private sector. Thousands of events (festivals, debates, associations, conferences, protests, groups, campaigns, etc.) will take place in the various participating countries. So far some fifty have been planned (e.g. a conference on school integration in Italy, a doctorate in Spain, a lecture by Jean Vanier, founder of L’Arche, in France in February, etc.), plus two official events at the European level. Available on the official website www.eypd2003.com are photographic materials and information on how to get involved, how to obtain funding, as well as a forum for discussion and the exchange of ideas. From here one can access the websites of the various national campaigns, propose events, give information on events planned in the various countries and send electronic postcards. A bus for “the people’s march”. The various initiatives will be linked through a bus of the European Year called “the people’s march” which will leave Athens on 26 January (with the disabled persons who will accompany it throughout its journey) and travel through the cities of 15 member countries. The journey will end in Italy in December. A local organization of disabled persons has been appointed in each country with the task of coordinating the activities revolving around the bus.