Exciting update: I’m partnering with the European Network on Independent Living (ENIL) to raise awareness and funds for their work fighting for the right to independent living and political representation from people with disabilities throughout Europe and beyond.
The European Network on Independent Living, or ENIL, is a network and forum of disability organizations and disabled people with members throughout Europe that advocates for independent living principles, practices, and values at the level of European and EU politics and decision-making to ensure the representation of people across the disability spectrum. Independent living is an ethos that all people, abled and disabled alike, have the right to exercise choice and control over their lives, and should have all the access, opportunities, and meaningful support necessary for full and equal participation in society, and the ability to pursue a life guided by their own unique ambitions and dreams. ENIL fights for independent living principles, values, and practices, and works for political representation for people across the disability spectrum at the European policy level, working to ensure the voices of disabled people are heard and accounted for in decision-making processes. People with disabilities across Europe still face considerable barriers in access to education, employment, recreation, mobility, and simple independence, and many people living with disabilities can lack meaningful personal assistance and even be segregated into institutions, fully restricting their equal participation in society. ENIL’s mission is to make sure people with disabilities are seen and heard in decisions pertaining to all aspects that may affect their lives, not just “disability-issues”, and work towards a vision of Europe where all people with disabilities can live happy, active, social, and fully self-determined lives.
It is an honor to be representing ENIL as an ambassador for the European segment of my trip. With their support, I’ll be able to connect with a variety of disability-focused organizations throughout the European countries I’ll be visiting, to promote their specific missions and goals. Additionally, I’ll be meeting with the ENIL team in Brussels to participate in and share their impactful work fighting for disability rights, access, and representation. I encourage everyone to check out https://enil.eu/ and support their mission by donating at: https://enil.eu/donate/ if you’re able and spreading the word about their important work. No one should be restricted from moving, playing, learning, working, or living fully due to disability, and it will take everyone pitching in to ensure disabled voices are heard and accounted for to guarantee independent living for all.
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