Editorial Update
Welcome to the November issue of ENIL, Independent Living News!
It is with sad regret we inform you that Bente Skansgard, one of the original pioneers of independent living in both Norway, Europe and worldwide passed away on 14th November 2013. ENIL will miss her greatly as one of our most respected and honored leaders. We will always remember and will be forever indebted for all Bente has done to advance the independent living movement and improve the lives of many disabled people across Europe. John Evans, OBE and a member of ENIL's advisory board has written a tribute to her and we invite you to read this in our newsletter.
This edition of our newsletter focuses on the West Region of ENIL. Firstly, we bring you a success story from the United Kingdom. On the 6th November 2013 the Appeal Court in London, United Kingdom took a significant and powerful step towards reversing the recent trend towards the cutting of services and funds to disabled people. The Appeal Court unanimously quashed the Government's decision to close the Independent Living Fund on the grounds that it breached the Public Sector Equality Duty. Also, in France an exciting new digital magazine, SUCH, has been launched and its goal is Busting the Myths about Disability!
In this Newsletter, we also ask about the question, should participation benefits for disabled people be means tested in Germany or not and also bring you the news on the first ever disability Pride in the Netherlands.
We are honored to induct ENIL Board member Germano Tosi into the Hall of Fame and in this edition you can read an interview with him where he explains the importance of how the paradigm shift indicated by the UN CRPD should become true in every country, making every disabled person a real European citizen with the same rights and opportunities as everyone else.
We hope you enjoy this months edition of our newsletter!
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Tribute to Bente Skansgard |
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It is with sad regret we inform you that Bente Skansgård, one of the original pioneers of independent living in both Norway, Europe and worldwide passed away on 14 November after a long illness. Bente was known as the mother of ULOBA, the representative independent living organisation of her native country Norway which she co-founded.
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Victory-Appeal Court in London Quash decision to close the Independent Living Fund |
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On the 6th November 2013 the Appeal Court in London, United Kingdom took a significant and powerful step towards reversing the recent trend towards the cutting of services and funds to disabled people. The Appeal Court unanimously quashed the Government’s decision to close the Independent Living Fund on the grounds that it breached the Public Sector Equality Duty.
The Independent Living Fund system was set up in 1988 in recognition of the fact that severely disabled people are at high risk of social exclusion and face particular barriers to maintaining independent living and working, and that their needs in this regard were not adequately addressed by council provision.
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A question of equality in Germany? |
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Should participation benefits for disabled people be means tested or not? This has been discussed in Germany for more than 40 years.
Currently disabled persons are only granted benefits for care and participation in society (the terms for personal assistance in Germany) when their complete assets and/or that of their closest relatives does not exceed €2600 or €3200 if in a partnership. The monthly income is then reduced to around €750 plus the rent for a "reasonable (maximum 60 m)" Apartment.
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The first Disability Pride in the Netherlands! |
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The first Disability Pride Netherlands took place in Arnhem on October 6th, 2013. Henk kissed his bride, celebrating their ‘wedding-for-one-day’ that had just been consecrated by Pope John of the Woods.
A real wedding is impossible for Henk and Inge and this is the message that they want people to understand. Henk receives a personal budget which is meant to be spent on his personal assistance. If Henk and Inge were to get married this personal budget would be added to the family income, making it impossible for him to pay his personal assistants any longer.
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SUCH, THE DIGITAL MAGAZINE WHICH IS BUSTING THE MYTHS ABOUT DISABILITY! |
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A new digital magazine has arrived! Its name is SUCH, it is European, and its goal is Busting the Myths about Disability! Each month, they explore a different subject.
The first issue is devoted to Independence. In this issue, you can discover the story of the Freedom Drive held in Strasbourg in September by watching a video of the events that took place or by reading an interview with one of the founders of Independent Living Adolf Ratzka.
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Hall of Fame: Germano Tosi |
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We are delighted to introduce you to Germano Tosi, one of ENIL’s Board members and induct him into the ENIL Hall of Fame. In this interview, he tells us about growing up in Italy and also about the importance of how the paradigm shift indicated by the UN CRPD should become true in every country, making every disabled person a real European citizen with the same rights and opportunities as everyone else.
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ENIL and OSF-MHI Roundtable on the Use of Structural Funds for People with Disabilities |
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As part of advocacy for better use of Structural Funds in Central and Eastern Europe, the European Network on Independent Living and the Open Society Foundations – Mental Health Initiative held a successful roundtable with representatives of the European Commission, Member States, the European Parliament and the civil society. The meeting, organised on 7 November in Brussels, had as its main objective to provide input into the Draft Briefing on Structural Funds Investments for People with Disabilities: Achieving the Transition from Institutional Care to Community Living. |
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