Report on Users’ Involvement in Social Services: Inspiring approaches to promote participation of persons with disabilities
The Report “Users’ Involvement in Social Services: Inspiring approaches to promote participation of persons with disabilities” was published by EASPD on 10 April 2013.
Through a close analysis of legislation at European and international level, the paper highlighted the need for active involvement of persons with disabilities in the services that support them.
It recalls EU legislation on service provision, such as the European Voluntary Quality Framework for Social Services, which was adopted by the Social Protection Committee in 2010. This framework is a set of guidelines identifying principles that social services should fulfil and that can support public authorities in the definition and evaluation of service quality. According to this framework, the relationships between service users and providers should be centered around principles, such as respect for users’ rights, participation and empowerment.
Respect for users’ rights is a principle which underlines the importance of ensuring persons with disabilities have access to information adapted to their needs. Another core element of this principle highlights the importance of respecting the rights of service users in terms of equal treatment and equal opportunities.
EASPD defines Users Involvement as the “systematic, ongoing and structural participation of service users in service development and provision, based on the principle that services must be built around people’s needs and preferences.”
The principle of participation and empowerment means that service providers should encourage the active involvement of their users, and, when appropriate, of their families, and informal carers in decisions concerning the planning, delivery and evaluation of services.
The principle of empowerment and participation of service users is underlined in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Under Article 19 of the Convention, persons with disabilities have the "right to live independently and be supported in the community." This articles places an obligation on both Member States and service provider organisations, to put into place adequate measures to develop community based services, available on an equal basis to persons with disabilities.
In this report on users' involvement in social services, EAPSD outlined several key areas to help ensure the active participation of persons with disabiliites. For example, it highlighted the need to guarantee special support for the transition period from institutional to community based care. Similarly, it noted the importance of active involvement of persons with disabilities in the development of policy plans about disability in general and on independent living in particular.
The report examined good practice examples developed and put in place by EASPD members. One of the core areas it looked at under best practices was “advisory role in projects.” For example, it detailed the role of the Austrian organisation, Innovia in the project “My Rights, My Voice.” A key aim of this project was to train persons with with disabilities to become trainers, so they could explain their rights to staff working in social services.
Under good practices, the report also examined “participation in the governing body of the organisation.” For instance, it underlined how the Hand in Hand Foundation in Hungary actively included persons with disabilities in the strategic planning of the organisation. In promoting the participation of persons with disabilities, this organisation asked service users to provide feedback on the services.
Key conclusions of this report included a call for full inclusion of persons with disabilities in service provision. The report further underlined that such involvement was vital to ensure that services meet the needs of persons with disabilities. Additionally, it highlighted the need for service providers to comply with the CRPD and recognise the role of persons with disabilities in the development and delivery of support systems.
