A European Erasmus+ project strengthening self-advocacy, participation, and inclusion for young people with intellectual disabilities.

Fostering Self-Advocacy Across Europe

Together for Inclusion is a European project that empowers young people with intellectual disabilities to speak up for themselves, take part in decisions that affect their lives, and actively shape more inclusive communities across Europe.

The project focuses on self-advocacy as a key pathway to participation, leadership, and human dignity. By supporting young people with intellectual disabilities to become confident self-advocates, the project contributes to a more inclusive Europe where all voices are heard and respected.

Together for Inclusion is co-funded by the European Union under the Erasmus+ Programme.

What Is Self-Advocacy?

Self-advocacy means being able to say what you think, what you want, and what you need.

It means being listened to and taken seriously.

At the heart of this project is the belief that we all have human dignity, no one can take it away, and it is the origin of our human rights. Self-advocacy allows young people with intellectual disabilities to claim their place in society and to participate fully as citizens.

Together for Inclusion builds on the experience, outcomes, and partnerships developed through the previous Erasmus+ project European Self-Advocates. That project laid the foundation for inclusive self-advocacy training across several European countries. Together for Inclusion takes this work further by strengthening cooperation between partners, expanding the training to new contexts, and supporting the long-term development of a European self-advocacy network.

Project Objectives

Together for Inclusion aims to:

Empower young people with intellectual disabilities to become self-advocates in their everyday lives
Strengthen the skills of youth workers, educators, and organizations working alongside self-advocates
Foster inclusive training environments where people with and without disabilities learn and teach together
Build a sustainable European network of self-advocates and supporting organizations
Promote participation, leadership, and active citizenship at local, national, and European levels

What We Do

Self-Advocacy Training

Together for Inclusion develops, implements, and continuously improves a structured self-advocacy training programme for young people with intellectual disabilities.

The training programme is piloted by partner organizations in all participating countries, allowing young people to develop skills related to expressing opinions, making choices, understanding rights, and participating in decisions in their everyday lives. The piloting phase provides valuable feedback from participants, trainers, and support staff, which is used to further strengthen the content and methods of the training.

Local self-advocacy conferences and community events are organised in partner countries, creating spaces for self-advocates to share their experiences, practise speaking in public, and connect with others in their communities.

In July 2026, a large-scale youth exchange in Madrid brings together more than 60 young people with intellectual disabilities and their support staff. During this exchange, participants reflect on their experiences with the training programme, contribute to its further development, and take part in activities focused on leadership, participation, and advocacy.

Capacity Building for Organizations

Together for Inclusion strengthens the capacity of partner organizations to deliver high-quality, inclusive self-advocacy training and to embed self-advocacy within their long-term practice.

Partner organizations take part in online exchanges and peer-learning activities, where they share experiences, challenges, and lessons learned from implementing self-advocacy training in different contexts. These exchanges support continuous learning and improvement across the partnership.

In five partner organisations, international exchange visits are organised, allowing organizations to host partners from other countries and to showcase their approaches to inclusion, self-advocacy, and organizational practice. In addition, five other partners organise national networking meetings to expand their national self-advocacy networks and strengthen cooperation between organizations and local stakeholders.

Throughout the project, each partner organization also develops an innovative community engagement project at local level. These initiatives explore creative ways to empower self-advocates and strengthen participation within communities. The experiences and outcomes of these projects are documented and compiled into a practical manual, which will be shared beyond the project partnership to inspire other organizations within the European Self-Advocacy Network.

European Network for Self-Advocates

Together for Inclusion supports the development of a European Self-Advocacy Network as a platform for connection, exchange, and collective voice.

The network is launched through a European online event around World Down Syndrome Day 2026, bringing together young self-advocates from across Europe to speak about their experiences and priorities.

Through online and in-person meetings, the network enables self-advocates to connect across borders, share experiences, and learn from one another. It also creates opportunities for dialogue with institutions, policymakers, and civil society organizations at European level.

An online platform with AI-supported features helps self-advocates better understand European policies in easy-to-read language and supports them in working on questions and policy recommendations.

Building on the work carried out throughout the project, self-advocates and partner organizations co-develop national and European policy recommendations. These recommendations are presented during the final European event in Brussels in 2027, where self-advocates engage directly with decision-makers and present their perspectives at the European Parliament.

Partneriai

Together for Inclusion is implemented by a European partnership of organizations working with and alongside young people with intellectual disabilities.

The project is coordinated by ES dėl trisomijos 21 (Belgium).

The partner organizations are:

Bundesverband Down-Syndrom e.V. (Germany)
Rejtett Kincsek Down Egyesület (Hungary)
Team Down (Italy)
Dauno sindromo asociacija Malta (Malta)
T’Cap21 (France)
Fundacja L’Arche (Poland)
Asociatia Fantasticii Down Galati (Romania)
Universidad Rey Juan Carlos (Spain)
Rytmus – od klienta k občanovi (Czech Republic)
inclution.org (Germany)

All partner organizations actively involve self-advocates in the design, implementation, and dissemination of project activities at local, national, and European levels.

Interested in attending one of our trainings?

Access our online training platform to explore the full European Self-Advocacy Program, including the four lessons, videos, and practical tools developed together with self-advocates across Europe.

Through the Inclusive Sharing Wall, you can exchange experiences and reflections and connect with our partner organizations across Europe who have already delivered the training, learning directly from their practice and insights.

Online Training Platform

Inclusive Sharing Wall

Apie Eufortrisomy21.eu

Platforma, skirta bendradarbiauti asociacijoms, piliečiams ir politikams, dirbantiems kartu minint Pasaulio Dauno sindromo dieną, kad būtų matoma apskritai intelekto negalia ir asmenys, kuriems ypač būdinga 21 trisomija (dažniausiai pasitaikanti genetinės kilmės intelekto negalia, dar vadinama Dauno sindromu). ).

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