Women with disabilities lead the work
Agate and EREO, both led by women with disabilities, hosted the technical-assistance team coordinated by Mobility International USA. MIUSA criticised the draft rules for misunderstanding independent living and excluding disability leadership. The organisations sought amendments grounded in disabled people’s choices and control over support.
European experience enters the discussion
ENIL director Ines Bulić Cojocariu and policy officer Kamil Goungor joined the Yerevan visit and a three-day training programme. An online workshop on 5 October had already introduced European personal-assistance models, personal budgets and ENIL’s checklist for assessing assistance arrangements. [2]
Local centres provide a base
Agate in Gyumri and EREO in Vanadzor had operated independent-living resource centres since 2021, offering peer support, information and skills training. MIUSA’s later account reported Agate staff’s assessment that three recommendations were fully accepted and two partly accepted, following the organisations’ advocacy around the decree. The centres are staffed by disabled people and organised around users’ priorities. [3][1]