Accessibility | top of the page |

Build-for-All
A tool-kit for including Design-for-All in public procurement under the new EU public procurement directives.

Principles of Universal Design
This document outlines the fundamental principles of Universal Design, the design of products and environments to be usable by all people to the greatest extent possible without the need for adaptation or specialized design.

European Concept for Accessibility Technical Assistance Manual
Based on the principles of universal design, the ECA is a technical guide to improving accessibility to the built environment in Europe and how to involve all stakeholders in the process.

Design-for-all - the Stockholm Declaration
The European Institute for Disability and Design (EIDD) adopted the Stockholm Declaration in 2004 which outlines the principles of Design-for-All and calls on European institutions, local and national governments to take all measures necessary to implement Design-for-All in their policies.

EU Directive 2004/18/EC of the European parliament and of the Council on the coordination of procedures for the award of public work contracts, public supply contracts and public service contracts.
and
EU Directive 2004/17/EC of the European parliament and of the Council on coordinating the procurement procedures of entities operating in the water, energy, transport and postal service sectors.
These two EU public procurement directives are intended to ensure non-discriminatory access to markets which means that for the first time, accessibility and employment of people with disabilities have been introduced into public procurement of goods, services and works.

EU Directive 95/16/EC on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to lifts establishes European legal requirements for the design, installation and placing on the market of new lifts which include accessibility standards.
It also sets out the conformity assessment procedures to be followed by lift installers to ensure conformity with these requirements.

EU Directive relating to special provisions for vehicles used for the carriage of passengers comprising more than eight seats in addition to the driver's seat, and amending Directives 70/156/EEC and 97/27/EC
These amendments call for accessibility standards to be applied for passenger vehicles with more than eight seats.

Eu Directive 2003/24/EC on measures for persons of reduced mobility on passenger ships
With this directive, accessibility standards will be applied to passenger ships.

Anti-discrimination | top of the page |

Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) from 2005
British anti-discrimination legislation promoting equal opportunities of people with disabilities.

EU Council Directive 2000/78/EC
This anti-discrimination directive was adopted in 2000 and calls for employment equality and reasonable accommodation.

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
U.S. civil rights legislation prohibiting discrimination based on disability.

De-institutionalisation | top of the page |

Children and Disability in Transition in Central Eastern Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS)
A report on the evolving status of children with disabilities in Central Eastern Europe including former Yugoslavia and CIS countries as the countries go through economic and political transition. The report draws on concrete examples of how children with disabilities are being included in society and looks at the development of community-based services and de-institutionalisation reforms.

Joint Position Paper on CBR (community-based rehabilitation): A Strategy for Rehabilitation, Equalization of Opportunities, Poverty Reduction and Social Inclusion of People with Disabilities
A collaborative paper made by the WHO, UN agencies, DPOs and NGOs promoting a participatory approach to CBR within community development for the equalisation of opportunities and social inclusion of all people with disabilities.

Beyond De-Institutionalisation: The unsteady transition towards an enabling system for people with disabilities in South East Europe
english | albanian | serbian
This report is based on Handicap International’s 12 years of experience in South East Europe and it describes the innovative initiatives and best practices being under-taken on the grass-roots level in terms of disability services and reform measures needed to ensure equal opportunities and full participation of people with disabilities.

Disability Issues | top of the page |

Philosophy of Independent Living
A detailed text on what the philosophy of independent living entails and how important it is for the empowerment of people with disabilities.

Disability Creation Process (DCP)
english | serbian
The DCP is a model for viewing disability from a perspective of social change, human rights, full participation, personal integrity and development. It was created in 1989 by Patrick Fougeyrollas and the Quebec Committee on the International Classification of Impairments, Disabilities and Handicap.

The Social Model of Disability, Human Rights and Development
This comprehensive paper describes the shift in disability paradigms from the medical to social model underlining the importance of a human rights approach to disability.

Human rights | top of the page |

UN Standard Rules on an Equalization of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities
english | albanian | serbian
Adopted in 1993 by the UN General Assembly, the Standard Rules are composed of 22 rules summarizing the World Programme of Action concerning people with disabilities.

Universal Declaration of Human Rights
english | albanian | serbian
This is the first international human rights treaty adopted in 1948 by the UN General Assembly.

UN Draft text on a Comprehensive and Integral International Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights and Dignity of Persons with Disabilities
english | serbian
Currently in the negotiation process, this international convention will be finalised during the 8th Ad Hoc Committee in August 2006.

Tools for Action | top of the page |

Agenda 22
A guide for implementing the UN Standard Rules on the local level involving all local stakeholders.

Disability Awareness in Action toolkit
english | albanian
A comprehensive resource toolkit on the various aspects of awareness raising including communication, fund-raising and media information.