The General Assembly of the European Association of Service Providers for People with Disabilities (EASPD) took place on 15 October, bringing together representatives of more than 20,000 social services from across Europe, including the National Alliance for Social Responsibility and the Agency for Social Development. Vision. The assembly opened with introductory remarks by President Jim Crowe and new Secretary-General Maya Doneva.
The event discussed the organization’s activity report, budget for future activities, membership update and formal admission of new members, as well as small changes in internal rules. The Communications Officer presented the new EASPD logo and provided the Assembly with a brief overview of the organisation’s new website. The renewal of the brand is related to the 25th anniversary of EASPD. In recent months, the organization’s team has been actively working on building a Strategy for the period 2022 – 2025. Policy and Communications Manager Thomas Bignal presented the draft strategy for smart transformation and sustainability building.
The UN Convention continues to require the rapid development of service delivery to better, more empowering and human-oriented forms of support. Across Europe, service providers, professionals and volunteers are rapidly adapting their services, innovating and relocating online to continue to provide the care and support needed by millions of people with disabilities to live an active life in the community and find their place. on the labor market.
Creating sustainability of support services is crucial to ensure that the sector recovers from the pandemic and ensures its intelligent transformation. We need to build capacity and resilience to deal with such shocks. A partnership is needed to find real solutions to build a fully sustainable support services sector, as well as to guarantee human rights.
In connection with the 25th anniversary and commemoration of the work of EASPD members on the implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in their national context, the EASPD brought together 25 models of good practice from the eight areas of the member forums. The awards from this initiative were presented during the gala dinner on the occasion of the anniversary.
The forum provided an opportunity for discussion between key stakeholders on current topics and issues related to the implementation of technologies in the field of providing services to people with disabilities and overcoming the digital divide in vulnerable social groups.
In gratitude for the long and successful partnership and on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the European Association of Service Providers for People with Disabilities / EASPD / National Alliance for Social Responsibility – Bulgaria presented plaques to Mr. Jim Crow as President of the organization and its Secretary General, Mr. Luc Zelderlo.
The plaques were presented by representatives of NASO and the Agency for Social Development – Vision after their participation in the anniversary conference of EASPD “Personalized technologies for empowerment of people and services for people with disabilities”, which took place on October 12-14 in Brussels.
For 20 years, the Alliance has implemented a number of projects and initiatives in partnership with EASPD, which has become one of the most important organizations supporting the implementation of sustainable policies in the interests of people with disabilities.
NASO expresses its deep gratitude and appreciation to the management and members of EASPD for their joint active work and outstanding contribution to the development of social policies and services at national and European level.
