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People First Europe

People First Europe is for self-advocacy organisations which are independent from parents’ organisations and service organisations.

 

People First Europe is made up of organisations which are owned by and controlled by the members.

 

Only people with a learning disability are allowed as voting members of the
organisations.

We want to have respect and trust and to be treated with dignity.

We must have good access to buildings, to information, to ideas, to language and words.

We need to make our own decisions, to have influence over anything which affects our lives and to have time and support to be truly involved.

 

We oppose discrimination and exclusion in every form – to do with age, gender, ability/disability, colour of skin, religion, language, sexuality.

 

We oppose labels and insist that all people are treated as valued human beings with all the human rights that every citizen can expect.

 

We want to be included in all aspects of community life and to have the
responsibilities that other citizens have.

 

We have the same thoughts and feelings as other citizens and we demand the same consideration which is given to other citizens.

 

We have the same needs as other human beings – the need to belong; the need to have purpose in our lives; the need for love and intimacy; the need to grow and develop and change; the need to belong and be a part of other people’s lives.

 

Of course, we oppose
institutions and institutional living in all of its many disguises. No human being of any age should live in an institution of any size or any kind.

 

We will work together to change the attitudes of other citizens, of communities, of politicians, of families and of professionals until we have the same rights and the same quality of life that other citizens can expect.

 

We are the experts in our own lives and we expect to be involved and to be consulted when decisions are being taken about us.

 

We pledge ourselves to our brothers and sisters with learning disabilities across the whole of Europe, regardless of country boundaries until we are all free from abuse, free from harm, free from institutions and free from discrimination.