March Out of Institutions - Tear the Walls Down

Duration

From 1 September 2004 onwards

Organisation

Forum selbstbestimmter Assistenz behinderter Menschen - ForseA e.V. (Germany) and many supporters

Background information

The campaign started with the participation of a number of disabled people in the Berlin Marathon in 2004. The goal was to show what a long way disabled people still have to go for their rights to be respected, in order to live outside of institutions and in the community, but also to show that they have the strength for it. Meanwhile, about one hundred presentations, seminars or events were organised in order to promote community living and the March Out of Institutions Campaign. Currently there is no funding for the campaign but it keeps going with ongoing reports and lobbying.

Aims and objectives

The goal of the campaign is to change the current support for disabled people in institutions into the support for community living, with the support disabled people need to live a life as self-determined as possible.

Activities

• International conferences

• National conferences

• Participation in the planning meetings for new legislation

• Assistance in arranging for politicians to look at good models in other countries

• Signature collection to stop the building of new institutions

• Regular media work

Expected results

"We hope that we can create a system which makes it possible for disabled people to move out of institutions and to live in the community with the support they need."

Further information

www.forsea.de/projekte/2004_marsch/marsch_start.shtml

E-Mail: Ottmar Miles-Paul, [email protected]

Tel. +49 561-9977172