The European Association of Service providers for Persons with Disabilities (abbreviated: EASPD), based in Brussels, Belgium, is an

umbrella organization An umbrella organization is an association of (often related, industry-specific) institutions who work together formally to coordinate activities and/or pool resources. In business, political, and other environments, it provides resources and ofte ...

that represents approximately 17,000 support service providers for

persons with disabilities Disability is the experience of any condition that makes it more difficult for a person to do certain activities or have equitable access within a given society. Disabilities may be cognitive, developmental, intellectual, mental, physical, ...

from 33 European countries at a European level.

History

EASPD was founded in 1996 with 5 partners. As the organisation began to grow, it held its first conference in 1999 in Dublin, Ireland, the topic being “Partnership— the key to quality services”. By 2001, EASPD represented 5,000 services, and had become a member of European

NGO A non-governmental organization (NGO) or non-governmental organisation (see spelling differences) is an organization that generally is formed independent from government. They are typically nonprofit entities, and many of them are active in h ...

s Social Platform and ECAS ( Euro Citizen Advice Service), and had signed cooperation agreements with IASSID and Inclusion Europe. Over the next 10 years, EASPD continued to grow, and until now has built a network that currently represents over 17.000 support services for persons with disabilities and their families all over Europe. The services represented cover the entire life cycle of the individual and include early intervention, education, employment, housing, leisure, culture, day-care, elder and residential support services. In 2011 EASPD, together with Eurodiaconia, Workability Europe, EPR,

Solidar SOLIDAR is a European network of NGOs working to advance social justice in Europe and worldwide. SOLIDAR voices the concerns of its member organisations to the EU and international institutions across the policy sectors of social affairs, inter ...

, FEANTSA, CEDAG, Caritas (joined later), and the

Red Cross The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement is a humanitarian movement with approximately 97 million volunteers, members and staff worldwide. It was founded to protect human life and health, to ensure respect for all human beings, and ...

(joined later) launched Social Services Europe, a European platform for

not for profit A nonprofit organization (NPO) or non-profit organisation, also known as a non-business entity, not-for-profit organization, or nonprofit institution, is a legal entity organized and operated for a collective, public or social benefit, in co ...

providers of

health Health, according to the World Health Organization, is "a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease and infirmity".World Health Organization. (2006)''Constitution of the World Health Organiza ...

and social services. In 2013 EASPD was accredited as NGO to the Conference of States Parties to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, and launched its first "Employment for All" Award. By 2015, EASPD represented over 12,000 service providers, became a member of EDF, and entered into a partnership with the

Zero Project The Zero Project is a non-profit based in Vienna, Austria, which focuses on researching and sharing innovative solutions that support the rights of people with disabilities globally. Zero Project publishes an annual report of innovative solutions ...

. In 2016 EASPD moved its headquarters to Rue du Commerce, Handelsstraat in Brussels and elected its current president, James Crowe. In 2017, EASPD launched their second

website A website (also written as a web site) is a collection of web pages and related content that is identified by a common domain name and published on at least one web server. Examples of notable websites are Google, Facebook, Amazon, and Wi ...

, socialinvetment.eu, to help social service providers get better loans through the EU Investment Plan and the European Investment Bank.{{Cite web, url=http://www.easpd.eu/en/content/easpd-launches-new-website-help-social-sector-get-better-loans, title=EASPD launches new website, date=2017 , url-status=dead , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180823211801/http://www.easpd.eu/en/content/easpd-launches-new-website-help-social-sector-get-better-loans , archive-date=2018-08-23 In January 2018, EASPD launched its new multiannual Strategy "Commit!" to support its work.

Logos

EASPD Presidents

* 1996 - 1997 Marie-Claire Rens of F.I.S.S.A.A.J Belgium *1997 - 1999 Roger Acton Director of Disability Federation Ireland * 1999 - 2005 Luk Zelderloo of Tau-groep Belgium * 2005 - 2008 Brian O'Donnell CEO of the National Federation of Voluntary Bodies Ireland * 2008 - 2016 Franz Wolfmayr President of Steierische Behindertenhilfe Dachverband Austria * 2016- Present James Crowe, UK

References

External links

EASPD Website

EASPD: ''Zehn bewährte Verfahren zur Beschäftigungsförderung von Menschen mit Behinderung''
(englischsprachige Version

Ilja Seifert: ''Die Europäische Strategie zugunsten von Menschen mit Behinderungen als Instrument zur Umsetzung des UNCRPD: Auswirkungen auf die Politik der EU und der nationalen Ebene''
Sprachendienst des Deutscher Bundestag, Deutschen Bundestags. 3. Mai 2012 Organisations based in Belgium Organizations established in 1996