Autism-Europe

Autism-Europe was founded in 1983 by a group of national and regional parents' associations. It was established following the first European Conference of Associations of Parents in Ghent, Belgium, in 1980.[6]

Under its first president, Jean Charles Salmon, the organisation identified its three main functions as monitoring, advocacy and recommendation; more specifically:

• to closely observe the treatment of, and care provided for, people with autism;
• to advocate to those responsible for the treatment and status of people with autism;
• to create proposals with the aim of promoting the well-being and interests of people with autism.[6]

Autism-Europe was founded in the context of a changing public understanding of all disabilities. A new conception of disability was emerging, called the "social model of disability" (as opposed to the "medical model of disability"), which aimed to redefine disability to focus on the relationship between people and their environment. This understanding is based on the idea that social barriers must be removed to enable people with disabilities to participate fully in society, becoming active members who can represent themselves and exercise their rights.[7]

In 1992, Autism-Europe members created the "Charter for Persons with Autism", a Charter which outlined the rights of autistic people in all aspects of life.[8] Following that, Autism-Europe decided that for the charter to have relevance at the European level, it must also have political endorsement. Autism-Europe therefore campaigned for political support and approval for the charter. The charter was adopted as a written declaration by the European Parliament in 1996.[9]

Autism-Europe launched the first collective complaint before the Council of Europe on behalf of people with disabilities in 2002.[10] Autism-Europe was represented by Evelyne Friedel, a lawyer with an autistic son.[11]

In 2004, the Council of Europe publicly announced its condemnation of France for having failed its educational obligations to persons with autism under the revised European Social Charter. The Council of Europe's decision put pressure on France and other countries in the Council of Europe to live up to their obligations under the European Social Charter by providing education for people with autism, both within mainstream and specialised schools.[12]

Following the decision, the French government launched its first "Autism Plan", which included measures to create new facilities and include children with autism in mainstream schools.[13]

In 2006, after four years of negotiations, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a new convention specifically for people with disabilities. The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities reaffirms that all people with all types of disabilities, including autism, must enjoy all human rights and fundamental freedoms. It is legally binding for countries that ratify it.[14]

Autism-Europe took part in the consultation process leading to the drafting and adoption of the UN Convention, and continues taking part in the review process of the European Union by the United Nations.[15] The convention has since been ratified by most countries in Europe, as well as the European Union, and therefore must be implemented in these countries and within the EU's fields of competence.

Following the collective complaint on the right to education in France in 2002, the Council of Europe established a group of experts – of which Autism-Europe was a member – to look into the issue of access to education for children with autism.[16] This resulted in the Council of Europe's "Resolution ResAP (2007)4 on the education and social inclusion of children and young people with autism", which was adopted as a recommendation in 2009 (CM/ Rec(2009)9).[17]

While this recommendation is not binding for the members of the Council of Europe, it applies pressure to implement policies promoting access to education and the inclusion of people with autism.

In September 2015, the European Parliament officially adopted the Written Declaration on Autism, co-signed by 418 Members of the European Parliament. The document, co-drafted by Autism-Europe, calls on the European Union and its member states to adopt a European strategy for autism that will support accurate detection and diagnosis across Europe, promote evidence-based treatment and support services for all ages, foster research and prevalence studies, and encourage the exchange of best practices.[18]