Together, we are building an architecture of inclusion!
30 years ago, the European Association of Service providers for Persons with Disabilities was founded. Six organisations came together with one vision and a lot of determination. They believed that disability support services needed to unite as one voice at European level and learn from each other to develop and transform. Achieving this could really improve the lives of the people they support.
We have achieved a lot since then. We have grown significantly and have a history we are proud of. Representing 40,000 support services across Europe, collaboration is the essence of our work. But there is still work to be done. To celebrate our special anniversary, we need to set a new mission to drive us for the next three decades. And a new name and look to represent our clear path forward.
Disability Support Europe is our shared commitment to a world where people with disabilities have the same choices and opportunities as everybody else. A world where everyday is built for everyone. We’ve always known support services are essential to get there, but we can't do it alone.
We want communities that include, employers that create real jobs, families that thrive and schools where every child can learn and grow. We want to shape the systems, policies and standards that make participation real, lasting and available to everyone. This is what we mean by building the architecture of inclusion.
But no architecture is built by one person alone. It takes many hands, many skills and many voices, and that's exactly what our network and partners bring.
As a Disability Support Europe member, we are looking forward to adding our brick to the foundations of the next 30 years ahead and seeing where it takes us. Towards a future where everyday is built for everyone.
