Unapei demands access to 2012 elections for people with intellectual disabilities

Unapei is a member of Inclusion Europe in France. France will hold elections this year. Unapei wants people with intellectual disabilities to vote in this election. Unapei wants to make sure people with intellectual disabilities have enough information about voting so that they can make a decision. Unapei also wants people with disabilities to be able to go to polling stations and vote there.

Unapei, a member of Inclusion Europe, has launched a new website, voicing the needs and wants of people with intellectual disabilities in view of the upcoming presidential and legislative elections. The website includes a list of proposals for the candidates to engage in, as well as recommendations to facilitate the participation of people with intellectual disabilities.

In France, according to Unapei, 400.000 people with intellectual disabilities have the right to vote. However due to lack of information and tools to facilitate the process, many citizens will not be able to exercise their right to vote.

Article 29 of the Convention on the rights of persons with disabilities protects the right of people with disabilities to participate in political and public life, always on an equal basis of other citizens.

In their website, Unapei makes a list of eight priority issues, affecting people with intellectual disabilities, to be adressed by the presidential candidates:

1. Accessible society
2. Access to health
3. Compensation for intellectual disability
4. Access to education
5. Work: make right to work effective
6. Respond to the needs of ageing people with intellectual disabilities
7. Funding of institutions and socio-medical services to maintain quality support
8. Recognition of volunteering

Moreover, Unapei entreats candidates to diffuse easy-to-read information during the electoral campaign. This way, people with intellectual disabilities can have access to sufficient information to form an opinion. They even recommended the candidates to make a video presenting their commitments to people with intellectual disabilities and their families.

Unapei, along with other French associations, such as the AFP (French association of paralysed people), is also demanding accessible voting polls and the right to assistance during the vote. Other propositions include easy-to-read websites and leaflets with information regarding voting, provision of training to officials of polling stations in assistance of people with disabilities.

The site also sports the Recommendations for Accessible Elections in Europe. These recommendations are a part of a European project that took place last year coordinated by Inclusion Europe. Nous Aussi from France, Enable from Scotland and SMP from the Czech Republic were participants in this project. The recommendations in this project emphasize the importance of deploying accessible information, eliminating restrictions to legal capacity and providing relevant training for polling personnel on one hand and for people with intellectual disabilities on another.

To link to the website is http:/www.2012.unapei.org The site is in french and includes an easy-to-read version.