Today we bring you part two of our awardee blog. Here, we take a look at projects that aim to support people in moving from institutions and regain control over their daily lives and decisions.

Making deinstitutionalisation work

We begin by taking a look at models that support a holistic approach to deinstitutionalisation. The number of children in residential care in Moldova has dropped by 86 per cent since Lumos began promoting deinstitutionalisation and inclusive education in the country. Also in Moldova, Keystone’s “Community for All” programme has supported more than 2,000 people with intellectual disabilities to move back to their families or community-based homes. In Ireland, Genio Trust has been working with the Government and philanthropy to co-ordinate closure of institutions and moving of residents into a community-based environment.

The parallel session on making deinstitutionalisation work takes place on day three of the conference (Friday 22^nd February) at 13:40 in M1.

Supported housing models in Eastern Europe and Central Asia

Many organisations are managing models for supporting those who have moved from institutions, or as a preventative measure to allow people to stay in their communities. In Romania, Pro ACT Suport are running a ‘stepping-stone’ model to train and support people with psychosocial and intellectual disabilities to live in the community. In Kazakhstan, the Psychoanalytic Association is supporting people in the Almaty region to move from institutions via a Training Café. Milan Petrovic school in Serbia supports adults with intellectual disabilities to live in the community with tailored assistance. Finally, Union SUMERO in Bosnia and Herzegovina has helped 80 people with intellectual disabilities to live in shared houses in their local communities with daily support.

The parallel session on Supported housing models in Eastern Europe and Central Asia takes place on day 2 of the conference (Thursday 21^st) at 16:00 in M1.

Supported decision making and personal budget models

Finally, we look at models that support persons to have more control over their daily lives through supported-decision making and personal budgets.

Innovative models for personal budgets and decision-making have been awarded in Israel. Bizchut have successfully demonstrated a model for supported decision-making which has let to changes in national government legislation. JDC and Israel Unlimited have successfully worked with the government to start a personal budget model, having worked with leaders and policy makers from the United States, where there is a well-established model. And in Sweden, PO- Skåne has been working as a contractor for local governments to provide personal ombudsmen and a self-determination coordinator for people with psychosocial disabilities.

The parallel session on supported decision making and personal budget models takes place on day 1 of the conference (Wednesday 20th) at 13:30 in M1.

Top picture – Mujo, a beneficiary of Union SUMERO’s shared housing and daily support, now living in his own home.

Today we begin a multi-part blog where we introduce you to our awardee projects that will be presented at the 2019 Zero Project Conference. We’ll also explore the themes that connect them.

Possibly the largest aspect of political participation for most people is elections, and as such this was a key topic for our research this year. Many projects, both from governments and NGOs are working to improve access to elections for persons with various disabilities.

Accessible elections

Around the world, projects are increasing general access to voting such as Brazil’s Superior Electoral Court’s “Electoral Justice Accessibility Programme” which moves polling stations to accessible buildings, provides staff that can communicate in sign-language and provides electronic voting machines. In Canada, Elections Saskatchewan’s Accessibility Implementation Plan improves homebound voting and improved polling station access, while in Mexico, Instituto Nacional Electoral’s national protocol improves access to polling stations, provides electoral material that promotes Braille ballots and provides sign language at public debates.

Paraguay Electoral Tribunal are improving accessing to elections after endorsing a number of recommendations from USAID and Fundación Saraki, including absentee ballots, plus braille and sign language voting information to improve access to voting. Finally, the International Foundation for Electoral Systems in the United States has developed a free-to-download election access observation toolkit which for organisations around the world to observe and collect data on access to electoral processes.

The parallel session on accessible elections takes place on day 2 (21st February) of the Zero Project Conference 2019 in the main room M1 at 14:35 CET.

Inclusive voter information

Information to help persons with disabilities understand the voting process and to choose who they wish to vote for is being made more accessible in some very innovative ways. In Spain, Plena Inclusión runs an awareness raising campaign to encourage those with intellectual disability to use their vote, while in Australia, Inclusion Melbourne is supporting participation through easy-language materials and online campaign information. Similarly, ENABLE Scotland and the UK Electoral Commission are providing easy-read voting guides while also providing accessible hustings. Finally, Studieförbundet Vuxenskolan run group-study opportunities for persons with intellectual disabilities to learn about Swedish politics using easy-read material.

The parallel session on inclusive voter information takes place on day 2 (21st February) of the Zero Project Conference 2019 in the main room M1 at 10:55 CET.

Online voting systems and tactile ballots

Alternatives to traditional voting systems are being implemented around the world to allow persons with different disabilities to vote, such as online ballots OmniBallot from Seattle-based Democracy Live which enables voting via computer, tablet or smartphone. Similarly, iVote from Barcelona-based Scytl enables Blind voters to vote via their smartphone in Western Australia.

An alternative for Blind voters is the use of tactile ballot papers, such as those from Boğaziçi University and the Association of Barrier Free Access in Turkey which allows voting for both those who can or cannot read Braille. In Georgia, the Central Election Commission has created tactile ballot guides which fit over standard ballot papers for Bind voters.

The parallel sessions on online voting systems and tactile ballots take place on day 2 (21st February) of the Zero Project Conference 2019 in room M3 at 16:25 and 17:15 CET respectively.