Click on a word which is in blue and bold to read what it means.
Ellis Jongerius works for the Dutch Care Institute
and for LFB.
LFB is a member organisation of Inclusion Europe
in the Netherlands.
Ellis wrote an article for the Dutch Care Institute
in which she talks about her work
and her life.
Ellis has an intellectual disability.
At LFB, she works as a trainer.
She helps other people with an intellectual disability
in speaking up for themselves.
Ellis says that the most important thing
is that society accepts
people with intellectual disabilities.
At school, she felt like she was different
from other kids.
But her parents always accepted her
and she was able to get a job at LFB.
After she got a job,
she could start an independent life.
As part of her job at the Dutch Care Institute,
Ellis trains people working in healthcare.
She teaches them how to better understand
what an intellectual disability is.
For example, she tells doctors and nurses
that they should speak
in a way that is easy to understand.
Ellis also tells them to speak
directly to the person with an intellectual disability
and not to the support person.
Ellis has this advice for all people with intellectual disabilities:
Be open about your disability and do not shut down!
