Diversity in DialogueDiversity in Dialogue

A Plan for ChangeA Plan for Change

Today we are asking you to Today we are asking you to think about….think about….

• People with People with learning disabilities learning disabilities in Europe, are the in Europe, are the largest group of largest group of people with a people with a disability.disability.

• Two point four (2.4) Two point four (2.4) % of the population % of the population of Europe have a of Europe have a learning disability.learning disability.

Think about……Think about……

• The promise that The promise that your country made your country made to make the to make the difference for difference for people with learning people with learning disabilities.disabilities.

• being treated as being treated as individuals with the individuals with the same rights as same rights as everyone else.everyone else.

Think about….Think about….

• The many ways The many ways that people with that people with a learning a learning disability are disability are treated unfairly treated unfairly across Europe across Europe every day.every day.

Think about….Think about….

• The fact that people The fact that people with a learning with a learning disability are not disability are not asked what they asked what they want from the want from the National and National and European decision European decision makers, and that makers, and that there are not enough there are not enough people speaking out people speaking out for us in Europe.for us in Europe.

Think about….Think about….

• The achievements of The achievements of this project.this project.

• People with learning People with learning disabilities working disabilities working alongside politicians; alongside politicians; sharing ideas and sharing ideas and experiences.experiences.

• Look at us today Look at us today sitting in the sitting in the European European Parliament!Parliament!

• All this shows All this shows what we can do, what we can do, with the right with the right supports and supports and access to access to information. information.

• Look at the ways Look at the ways that people with that people with a learning a learning disability in disability in Europe can Europe can improve things in improve things in the EU, through the EU, through equal and active equal and active citizenship.citizenship.

Time to ActTime to Act

• Look at how Look at how people working people working in the European in the European Disability Disability Movement can Movement can really be listened really be listened to, heard and to, heard and counted as counted as important.important.

• Remember what we Remember what we achieved in the achieved in the European Year of European Year of People with People with Disabilities in 2003 Disabilities in 2003 and make an easy to and make an easy to follow plan to reach follow plan to reach our goals; using the our goals; using the Commission’s Commission’s European Action European Action Plan on Disability. Plan on Disability.

• Work with Self Work with Self Advocacy Groups Advocacy Groups and support us and support us to stop the to stop the discrimination discrimination experienced by experienced by people with people with learning learning disabilities.disabilities.

Hear what we are saying,Hear what we are saying,

give us a voice in Europe!give us a voice in Europe!

Portugal 2003