Project Description
Autism-Europe
BELGIUM
www.autismeurope.org
|
Autism-Europe (AE) is an international association whose main objective is to advance the rights of people with autism and to help them improve their quality of life. AE advocates towards European decision-makers to foster a better policy response to the needs of autistic people. AE also strives for more awareness and understanding of autism in society.
AE is comprised of more than 80 member association in 38 countries and represents an estimated 5 million people throughout Europe. Self-advocates and families play a central role in the organisation. AE is recognised by the European institutions as a key representative network in Europe of autistic people and their families.
In 1999, Autism-Europe launched a survey among its members to identify and meet their priorities concerning the actions to be implemented in order to achieve our general goal. Autism-Europe’s members identified the following strategic objectives as their priorities:
-
Representing people towards all European Union’s institutions
-
Promoting the rights and dignity of people with autism
-
Promoting awareness on the appropriate care, education, and well-being of people with autism
-
Liaising with other non-governmental organisations sharing similar objectives
-
Promoting the exchange of information, good practices and experience
In order to implement these long-term objectives, Autism-Europe has built strategic alliances with its social partners in order to maximise its impact on European Union’s policies and to establish a structured dialogue with the European Institutions.
Autism-Europe plays a key role in raising public awareness, and in influencing the European decision-makers on all issues relating to the rights of people with autism and other disabilities involving complex dependency needs.
To maximise our impact on EU policies, Autism-Europe works in strategic coalitions with organisations that share the same concerns and goals. These include the European Disability Forum (EDF), the Platform of European Social NGOs and the European Coalition for Community Living (ECCL). Autism Europe is a founder member of these organisations and currently holds the vice presidency of EDF.
Autism-Europe has established a structured dialogue with the European Institutions and is also active towards the World Health Organisation (WHO).
Autism-Europe aisbl has considerable expertise in the field of autism, and in working with strategic partnerships and coalitions with a range of organisations. The organisation is skilled in the dissemination of information and research evidence through its website, its news and journal and its regular Autism-Europe International Congresses. Autism-Europe will be leading within this project with regard to dissemination.
Staff involved
Aurélie previously worked for the European Disability Forum (on a capacity building project with disability organisations in the Western Balkans) and completed training at the European Commission and Euro Coop.
Aurélie holds a Master in International Relations and a Master in European Public Management.
Aurélie speaks English and French.
Previously Cristina worked for both European associations Pain Alliance Europe (PAE) and the EMEA Power Transmission and Distribution Association (EPTDA).
Thanks to these experiences, she can make a valuable contribution to the fields of lobbying, event coordination or communication strategy. Likewise, she completed an internship in the Federation of European Direct and Interactive Marketing.
She holds an Executive Master in Communication and European policy from the IHECS in Brussels as well as a Master in Journalism from the University of Valladolid, Spain. Her positive attitude and a can-do spirit help her to think outside-the-box and come up with creative solutions and initiatives.
Cristina speaks Spanish, English and French.
