EASPD Brussels

27/11/2025

On 6 November, partners of the project and members of their Blended Learning Network met in Brussels for a productive and inspiring day of collaboration.

Experts on long-term care, practitioners and people with lived experience came together to share country insights on support for informal carers and long-term care systems across Europe, highlighting both common challenges and national approaches.

Learn more here: https://easpd.eu/news-detail/well-care-partners-come-together-to-improve-long-term-care-support/

26/11/2025

🫂 Building truly inclusive communities starts with co-creation, listening to local voices, and trying out new ideas that bring people closer.

This is the aim of the ICALL project, which was spotlighted at our Conference in Turin during the workshop "Building Community Connections and Inclusive Spaces".

Participants explored the recently developed ICALL Training Manual, created to help local authorities, NGOs, and service providers shape inclusive communities from the ground up.

The workshop wrapped up with a meme game, proving that inclusion can be both meaningful and fun!

💡 What’s next? The training materials will soon be piloted in Finland, Greece, Hungary, and Poland to test how they work in practice and gather feedback.

🔗 Learn more about ICALL: https://easpd.eu/project-detail/icall/

25/11/2025

We are pleased to share that the project will take part in tomorrow’s webinar “New competencies and skills for healthcare professionals in integrated long-term care”.

Orazio Fiorini (EASPD) will contribute to the discussion by sharing the project’s insights, including what the European analysis reveals about training needs in the long-term care workforce.

Find out more about the event here:
👉 https://laurelproject.eu/uncategorized/webinar-announcement-new-competencies-and-skills-for-healthcare-professionals-in-integrated-long-term-care/

21/11/2025

🗞 | This week, our Head of Projects shares a little teaser of one big event on the horizon: our next Conference in Porto. The focus will be on organisational development, and what makes this edition extra special is that you’re invited to shape the programme with us. If you’ve got a workshop idea or an innovative practice you’d love to spotlight, this is your chance to get involved. More:

☕ EASPD Members Project Café
💶 How is EASPD contributing to negotiations on the next EU Budget?
📝 SUPPORT project’s survey collects input on supported employment
💡 Knowledge Hub resource by our Learning and Development Officer

Read: https://shorturl.at/cMyLO
Subscribe: https://shorturl.at/zzpYy

20/11/2025

Today we celebrate and the adoption of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Every child deserves to grow up in a safe, nurturing and loving environment regardless of their background or abilities. This means ensuring access to quality education, healthcare and opportunities that allow them to reach their full potential.

At EU level, the European Child Guarantee transforms these principles into concrete action. It directly addresses child poverty and social exclusion, ensuring all children can access these essential services:
🧑‍🍼 Free early childhood education and care
🏫 Free education and school-based activities
🍎 At least one healthy meal each school day
🩺 Healthcare, including early childhood intervention for children with disabilities

EASPD believes that true inclusion starts by removing barriers and ensuring children with disabilities and their families receive the support they need. We advocate for a strong Child Guarantee and comprehensive national implementation, where inclusive policies and investment in service provision are at the core.

🔗 Learn more about our work on the Child Guarantee and children with disabilities: https://easpd.eu/publications-detail/children-with-disabilities-in-the-child-guarantee/

EASPD has developed country factsheets with information from the National Action Plans implementing the Child Guarantee in EU Member States.

19/11/2025

Did you know that over 80% of long-term care for people with disabilities in Europe is delivered informally by family members, friends or neighbours?

• Approximately 52 million people across the EU provide informal long-term care.
• Nearly two-thirds of informal carers are women, exposing a clear gender inequality among those aged 35–64.
• The reliance on informal care is growing unsustainable: Europe’s population is ageing, family networks are shrinking and the burden falls on those least supported.
🔍 This data highlights the urgency for structural, rights-based support of families and informal carers.

This is why EASPD has launched the Turin declaration with 12 other European networks. Read it here:
https://lnkd.in/ef97WJ3V

19/11/2025

Inclusive Path project hosted a workshop in Turin!

Last month, during our international conference on Empowering Families, we talked about the challenges faced by people with disabilities in transitioning from school to VET. Here are some of our key learnings:

🌟 Challenges in transition from secondary schooling to VET depend heavily on national systems of countries.

🌟Parents often felt helpless, disillusioned, and unable to focus on their traditional, loving parental role due to constantly advocating for their child.

🌟Trust and good interpersonal relationships between youth, families and educators are crucial to a smooth transition.

Get to know the project 👉 https://easpd.eu/project-detail/inclusive-path/

17/11/2025

eVeR safe project teaches people with autism how to be ready in case of an emergency. In light of the earthquakes that took place in Cyprus, its important to raise more awareness on supporting people with disabilities as well in these adverse conditions.

Know more about eVeR safe: https://www.ever-safe.eu/

🌍 The recent earthquakes in Cyprus over the past two days, combined with the challenges of the winter season, remind us how important preparedness is for everyone.

🥽 The eVeR safe project uses Virtual Reality (VR) tools to help individuals on the autism spectrum practice essential skills for emergency situations - such as
⚡ power outages,
🌍 earthquakes, and
🚨 other crises
in a safe, controlled environment.

💪 VR allows learners to experience these scenarios without real-world risks, building confidence and readiness.

16/11/2025

How can we lead change in disability services to make the UNCRPD a reality?

EASPD’s 2026 Spring Conference in Porto will focus on this very question. We’ll showcase how disability service providers can drive organisational transformation and overcome barriers, particularly in human resources and financial management, to deliver support inline with Human Rights principles.

This will also be the theme of EASPD’s 2026 Innovation Awards ⭐ spotlighting organisations' developing high-quality disability services that promote full participation and inclusion in society.

This year, we invite you to shape our conference programme by submitting a proposal to lead a workshop or deliver a speaking session and to apply for our Innovation Awards.

We’re especially looking for innovative practices and inspiring speakers in:
▪️ HR and resource management
▪️Leadership and change management
▪️Capacity building for the digital and green transition
▪️Financial management and planning
▪️Communication, partnerships and marketing

📅 Applications are now open!

👉 Apply for the Innovation Awards: https://easpd.eu/news-detail/easpd-innovation-awards-2026/
👉 Apply to contribute to our Porto Conference: https://easpd.eu/news-detail/call-for-programme-contributions-for-easpd-international-conference-leading-change-in-disability-services/

13/11/2025

At EASPD, we’re committed to promoting collaboration and mutual learning within our network. This winter, we’re hosting two events designed to bring our community together to share ideas and explore opportunities.

EASPD Knowledge Café – Supporting families and caregivers when a child is violent
📅 Thursday, 20 November 14:00 – 16:00 CET on Zoom
This Café will open a safe space for reflection, dialogue and shared learning on how to support families and caregivers facing challenging situations.

📝Register here:
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_nI9Ntsu4TY-uPO8B1uBh8A #/registration

EASPD Member Project Café
📅10 December , 14:00 – 17:00 CET (via Zoom)
A collaborative space for members to:
• Explore funding opportunities for 2026 at both European and national levels
• Discuss project ideas and priorities under Erasmus+ KA2
• Connect with peers to identify synergies for future partnerships
📝Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_VtpHjs0iSwWF9SKxv41YNQ #/

12/11/2025

Last week, EASPD and its partners in the project hosted an online training to equip educators with the knowledge and tools to increase the financial literacy skills of neurodivergent adults.

Educators from Malta, Greece, Lithuania and North explored how to use the project’s Training Guidebook and were introduced to the BeyondDigits 3D game and mobile app, which will make learning about the economy and personal finances engaging and accessible.

Thank you to our project partners Εταιρεία Ψυχοκοινωνικών Μελετών (Ε.ΨΥ.ΜΕ.) CEFE Macedonia - ЦЕФЕ Македонија Omega Technology Panevėžio socialinių pokyčių centras KI-I, Prisms Malta

Find out more about the project’s training materials here:

Project results Home Project results The project results aim to promote the inclusion of digital tools and game-based learning into the training curriculum and improve the competences of professionals to interpret these analytics. Current project phase: Phase 2 (Q2 2025). 40% complete. Phase 1 Q4 20...