People using assistance should direct it
Agate’s account highlighted that independent living centres should be established and led by disabled people. Participants visited transitional apartments and private homes. Grigoryan’s organisation described meeting Aleksandr, who had moved into his own home in the community and organised daily support with five personal assistants. [1]
Funding and working conditions enter the discussion
YHD representatives, including Elena Pečarič and Klaudija Poropat, explained the movement’s history. According to ENIL, the hosts raised funding rates that did not always meet service costs. They also stressed training for users and assistants, and secure employment with fair conditions for assistants. [2]
Peer support connects the exchange with work in Armenia
Agate’s service model includes accessible information, referrals, peer mentoring and independent living skills. It also provides individual advocacy to address barriers and broader advocacy for accessible services. The organisation describes support as shaped by each person’s needs and wishes, with users exercising authority over the services they use. [3]