Self-advocates in Czechia met on 12 October 2023 during their annual conference Pro změnu (For change).
More than 90 people attended the event.
The conference took place in Brno, and was organised by Rytmus, an organisation that has been supporting self-advocacy activities and organising the Pro změnu conferences for a long time. Rytmus is a member of Inclusion Europe.
Self-advocates at conference Pro změnu 2023. Source: Rytmus
Platform of self-advocates to strengthen their voice
Big part of the conference was dedicated to establishing a national platform of self-advocates.
The initiative to form a national platform was announced, and people with intellectual disabilities from all over Czechia are invited to join.
The platform will bring them together to unite and strengthen their voice.
Some of the conference participants joined the platform on the spot.
Self-advocates at conference Pro změnu 2023. Source: Rytmus
Milena Johnová from Inclusion Europe contributed to the discussion about self-advocacy platform by presenting the European Platform of Self-Advocates and how self-advocates come together to work at European level.
Employment
Alongside the self-advocacy platform, the conference focused on employment.
Speakers shared their experiences finding a job as a person with intellectual disabilities. They talked about the benefits and challenges of employment, how to combine work and active life, and how to keep a job.
Rytmus supports employment of people with intellectual disabilities.
Self-advocates at conference Pro změnu 2023. Source: Rytmus
Rytmus self-advocates recently attended the Hear our voices! self-advocacy conference in Tallinn.
There is a big need for self-advocacy participation on many important topics in Czechia. Inclusion Europe did a training for self-advocates about this in 2022.
