Academic Network of European Disability Experts

Today was the final day of the UK Disability Studies Association conference in Lancaster.  As almost a footnote to the conference Mark Priestley announced the launch of the European Commission’s ‘Academic Network of European Disability Experts’ (ANED) at http://www.disability-europe.net/. 

Some of the major themes of the Lancaster conference were international concerns – particularly relating to the North/South divide, the export and commercialisation of disability and impairment (in terms of war, arms proliferation, pharmaceuticals, pollution, global warming, (e)sweatshops, etc.) – alongside those of more local UK national policy making.  Within this dichotomy of Home and Abroad, it initially appeared to me that Europe, and in particular EU legislation and it’s impact on British governance, was under-represented.  ANED, however, appears to represent an ambitious and major step forward in addressing policy at the European level. In its own words, the Academic Network aims to support the objectives of European disability policy towards the goal of full participation and equal opportunities for all disabled people.

‘ANED builds upon the expertise of existing disability research centres and national networks, supported by contacts in each country, expert rapporteurs in specific themes, and links to other policy and research networks. In this way, it provides a co-ordinating infrastructure of academic support for practical implementation of the European Disability Strategy and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in Europe.’