Youth committee

What is the Youth Committee?

In the context of the ratification of the United-Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UN CRPD)
by the European Union (EU), we underline the importance of
mainstreaming disability in all areas concerning youth as there are
evidences that young persons with disabilities face higher levels of
discrimination and face additional barriers in most areas of society.

The Youth Committee is the voice of young people with disabilities
inside our organisation. The Committee ensures that EDF’s work takes
into account the perspective of young people with disabilities but also
to represent young people with disabilities in both EDF and external
events.

In order to ensure the place of young persons with disabilities in
EDF’s decisions and activities, the Chair of the Youth Committee is
co-opted to the EDF Board.

How is it organised?

The Youth Committee is composed by members, young people aged 18 to 35, representing all categories of disability.

It is supported by a focal point member of the Executive Committee and a substitute also member of the Executive Committee and a staff from EDF Secretariat

How does the Youth Committee work?

Read the Youth Committee Terms of Reference in Easy to Read.

The Youth Committee follows a four years action plan. The current
plan concerns 2022. The current plans includes a priority them for
each year:

In 2024 the Youth Committee held elections and decided to go with a system of co-chairing until the end of their mandate mid 2024.

They wish to find out via a survey what young people with disabilities expect from the EU and define a work-strategy on long term.

To implement the strategies, the Youth Committee holds annual
meetings, participates in relevant European conferences and events and
communicates regularly by email. The Youth Committee also provides
continued support to EDF with expert advice on mainstreaming the rights
of you

Members

• Alexandre Bloxs (European Union of the Deaf): Executive Committee Focal Point
• Matteo Beddock (European Union of the Deaf)
• Dongdong Camani (Italian Disability Forum)
• Tania Galián  (European Federation of Hard of Hearing)
• Renée Joosten (Ieder (in))
• Luke McLaughlin (European Network on Independent Living (ENIL))
• Fabiana Morais (Inclusion Europe)
• Ester Ridal (Swedish Disability Rights Federation)
• Nikolīne Krista Tesļuka (SUSTENTO)

Observers

• Carolina Arezes (Cerebral Palsy – European Communities Association)
• Isabelle Blum (Autism-Europe)
• Elisabeth Egel (European Blind Union)
• Maja Munih (Slovenian National Council of Persons with Disabilities)
• Gabija Šakalytė (Lithuanian Disability Forum)
• Julie Šrámková (European Council of Autistic People)
• Floriane Vellande (Belgian Disability Forum)