Self-advocates partners in building an inclusive society

Damjan Janjušević

Life in the Community1. – 2. 11. 2011

THE HISTORY OF THE IDEA OF SELF ADVOCACY

1968 the roots of the movement of self advocacy in Sweden

1973 The first convention of the „mentally handicapped“ with the subject Can I have a choice

1974 People First founded in Salem (USA)

„We wanted to talk about what is happening in our lives“

„I am tired of being called retarded - we are people first“

October 1974 the first convention of People First was held

People First today - more than 800 groups and 17,000 members in 43 countries

ASA VISION, MISSION AND GOALS

Founded in Zagreb in October, 2003

Before that working in self advocacy groups

Membership in Inclusion Europe and ECCL

At the moment 35 members and 6 employees

VISION AND MISSION

A society in which persons with intellectual disabilities are equal citizens

Assemble persons with intellectual disabilities in a democratic and open organization

Advocate for the equality of PID.

GOALS

PID have control and make decisions

All PID live in the community and have support for meaningful community living

PID included in decision-making at a local and national level

ASA the leader

THE CONCEPT OF SELF ADVOCACY

ASA an independent organization of PID

ASA does not deal with rehabilitation or teaching of PID

PID have the right to assemble and associate just like all other citizens

THE CONCEPT OF SELF ADVOCACY

Self advocates have the right to get information and support in advocating their interests

Self advocation is open to everyone

ASA is run by self advocates and belongs to self advocates

HUMAN RIGHTS OF PID

Citizens and nationals - basic status of every person

Establishing the diagnosis of ID

Separation - special kindergarten classes, special schools, special workplaces, special places to live

HUMAN RIGHTS OF PID - INSTITUTIONS

Threatened freedom of movement

Freedom to communicate

Privacy

Having relationships or making a family

Inability to choose food, clothes, shoes

HUMAN RIGHTS OF PID - EDUCATION

Impossibility to choose schools

Separation from children without disabilities

Poor quality and level of knowledge

Impossibility to choose occupation or profession, lifelong learning, ect

HUMAN RIGHTS OF PID - EMPLOYMENT

Impossibility of employment in open labour market

Working in sheltered workshops

Working in institutions

Unpaid or poorly paid work

HUMAN RIGHTS OF PID

Eliminating perspectiveImpossibility of planning

Impossibility to improve one's position in an institution, but also in the community

The message: obedience is better than personal advocating

HUMAN RIGHTS OF PID

The need for radical changes in the society's treatment of PID

Necessary to reconsider their status and position in the society

Existence of two parallel worlds or societies

HUMAN RIGHTS OF PID - CARE

Care based on the principle of compassion or charity, not protection of human rights

Question: can PID ask for more and better than institution, special schools or sheltered workshops?

HUMAN RIGHTS OF PID - PROTECTION

Protection based on the assumption of complete incompetence

Primacy of the principle of ensuring complete protection above the principle of respecting human rights

Deprivation of legal capacity

Impossibility to influence one's own life

HUMAN RIGHTS OF PID - NEW VIEWS

The concept of human rights and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights

The duty to develop and protect human rights

Restricting human rights must not be arbitrary

HUMAN RIGHTS OF PID - NEW VIEWS

Universality

Expansion

Possibility of protection from the court- enforceability

THE CONNECTION BETWEEN SELF ADVOCACY AND HUMAN RIGHTS

Self advocacy means:

Human rights protection

Possibility to associate, of free speech, to be informed and exchange ideas

Possibility for joint action

QUESTIONS

How to ensure the involvement of PID in the decision making processes?

How to ensure a balance of risk between need for legal protection and right to decide about their life?

How to build a society in which PID will have a perspective outside the social care system?

 

Thank you for your attention.

Damjan Janjuševićdamjan@samozastupanje.hrTel. + 385 www.trass.cz

www.facebook.com/trass.cz