People with disabilities

Handbook on European non-discrimination law – 2018 edition

European non-discrimination law, as constituted in particular by the EU non-discrimination directives, and Article 14 of and Protocol 12 to the European Convention on Human Rights, prohibits discrimination across a range of contexts and grounds. This handbook examines European non-discrimination law stemming from these two sources as complementary systems, drawing on them interchangeably to the extent that they overlap, while highlighting differences where these exist.

Putting the UN’s Disability Convention into practice

Fundamental Rights Report 2019: Ten years after the UN’s Disability Convention entered into force, 2018 saw it continue to drive advances in disability rights across the EU.

Fundamental Rights Report 2019 – FRA opinions

The year 2018 brought both progress and setbacks in terms of fundamental rights protection. FRA’s Fundamental Rights Report 2019 reviews major developments in the field, identifying both achievements and remaining areas of concern. This publication presents FRA’s opinions on the main developments in the thematic areas covered, and a synopsis of the evidence supporting these opinions.

Who will (not) get to vote in the 2019 European Parliament elections?

The right to vote is at the heart of what it means to live in a democratic society. However, legislation sets out a number of restrictions on this right. With a view to the European Parliament elections in 2019, this paper presents developments in the situation of the right to vote for people deprived of legal capacity in the EU.

5 success factors on the road to independent living for people with disabilities

The EU and all its Member States are legally bound to the UN’s Disability Convention. They have a duty to ensure people with disabilities can live independently in the community rather than in institutions.

From institutions to community living for persons with disabilities – perspectives from the ground - Summary

The European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) wanted to contribute to making steps to implement deinstitutionalisation more effective, by capturing concrete evidence of what is and what is not working on the ground. To do this, the agency conducted extensive fieldwork research in five EU Member States at different stages of the deinstitutionalisation process. This summary report presents the key findings of that fieldwork and the FRA opinions stemming from them.

From institutions to community living for persons with disabilities: perspectives from the ground

The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities commits both the EU and all of its Member States to realising the right of persons with disabilities to live independently in the community – which includes achieving deinstitutionalisation for those residing in institutional settings. But much remains to be done to make this a reality in practice. This report presents the main insights gained during fieldwork on the drivers of and barriers to deinstitutionalisation. Focusing on the local level, it gives voice to a diverse set of actors – most importantly, to people with disabilities themselves.

Independent living for people with disabilities

FRA's latest report explores what enables and what hinders the drive towards independent community living for people with disabilities.

Video Blog by Michael O'Flaherty: Independent Living

Michael O'Flaherty talks about empowering people with disabilities to be full and independent members of the community.

From institutions to community living: key findings and FRA opinions

EU Member States, and the EU itself have ratified the CRPD, committing themselves to achieving independent living for persons with disabilities. Doing so requires a meaningful and sustainable shift from institutional to community-based living arrangements. This publication summarises the findings from the three FRA reports focusing on different aspects of deinstitutionalisation.

From institutions to community living - Part I: commitments and structures (Easy read)

This report looks at what the EU and the 28 countries have agreed to do to move people with disabilities from living in institutions to living in their local community with support.

From institutions to community living - Part II: funding and budgeting (Easy Read)

This report looks at the money that is needed to help people move from living in institutions to living in their local community with support.

From institutions to community living - Part III: outcomes for persons with disabilities (Easy Read)

This report looks at the lives of people with disabilities who are living independently in their local community.

From institutions to community living - Part I: commitments and structures

Discussions are under way at the European Union (EU) and national levels about how best to realise the transition from institutional to community-based support. This report contributes to these by bringing together some of the key issues that have emerged from the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights’ (FRA) human rights indicators on Member States’ political and practical commitment to deinstitutionalisation.

From institutions to community living - Part II: funding and budgeting

The transition from institution- to community-based support for persons with disabilities is a complex process that requires multifaceted efforts. These include putting in place commitments and structures for achieving deinstitutionalisation and measuring outcomes for persons with disabilities. This report shows that effectively funding the deinstitutionalisation process is a vital element.

From institutions to community living - Part III: outcomes for persons with disabilities

This report assesses to what extent Member States have implemented the right to independent living, focusing on the effect commitments and funds are having on persons with disabilities’ daily lives. Taken together, the reports provide important insights that can support ongoing processes of change.

Fundamental Rights Report 2017 - FRA opinions

Diverse efforts at both EU and national levels sought to bolster fundamental rights protection in 2016, while some measures threatened to undermine such protection.