International Symposium

Disability: "Investment not Burden"

In 1995, CIL held a three-day international symposium that focused on changing society’s perception of disability. CIL wanted to prove that disability could be an investment and not a burden on society.

The CIL wanted people to leave the symposium with:

Practical information on establishing and developing Independent Living programmes;

The knowledge on how to “invest rather than “spend” on disability;

An understanding of National and European policies on disability issues and how best to influence them.

The participants at the symposium, held at Jury’s Hotel and Dublin Castle from March 28 to the 30 the, 1995, adopted the following Resolution:

“We, people with a disability, from 17 European Countries who have been active in the independent living movement for more than ten years, and who came together fro the Symposium entitled, “Disability – Investment not Burden” are very dissatisfied with the way disability matters are addressed and the way money is spent at local, national and European levels. In general people with disabilities are treated as passive objects rather than as active subjects, and are kept passive, dependent and segregated. After developing many innovative programmes fro independent and self-determined living run and controlled by people with disabilities, it is time to enter a new phase of disability politics and funding away from passive objects to active subjects.

Therefore the European Network on Independent Living needs to be recognised and funded appropriately as the representative of the Centers for Independent Living.

We propose to establish a European Center of Excellence on Disability Studies run and controlled by people with disabilities which will research and evaluate the policies and practices affecting our lives. Funds fro that Have to come first of all from the funds which are allocated to people with disabilities.
We call on all national governments and the European institutions to introduce a non-discrimination clause into their appropriate legislation on the grounds of disability. This clause should be introduced at national level in European and non-European governments, and at international level in the Maastricht Treaty."

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International Symposium

Disability: "Investment not Burden"

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