Academic Network of European Disability experts (ANED) – VT/2007/005

1. Academic Network of European Disability experts (ANED) – VT/2007/005

2. Centre for Disability Studies Academic Network of European Disability experts (ANED) Professor Mark Priestley

3. Centre for Disability Studies Aims and focus • to establish and maintain a new pan-European academic network in the disability field • research - policy - practice • social model of disability • build on the expertise of existing research centres and networks • link to other research networks and monitoring projects • develop the capacity of European scientific expertise in disability • widening impact and public information

4. Centre for Disability Studies Network structure and management 2008 • Human European Consultancy (Netherlands) • University of Leeds (UK) • Research Leaders (Germany, France, Netherlands, UK) • Country experts (EU and EFTA) • Thematic rapporteurs and peer review • External advisors (including EDF) • Links to other networks

5. Centre for Disability Studies Focus for nine Key Tasks in 2008 • Task 1 - Network management • Task 2 - collaborative work environment and website • Task 3 - European disability law and policy • Task 4 - comparative statistical data • Task 5 - UN Convention monitoring indicators • Task 6 - OMC EU Employment Strategy • Task 7 - OMC social inclusion and social protection • Task 8 - additional information requests • Task 9 - annual academic meeting

6. Centre for Disability Studies Task 3 – mapping European disability law and policy • Task Leader: Prof Lisa Waddington (Maastricht) • Rapporteur: Prof Rikki Holtmaat (Leiden) • Relevance to the UN Convention and DAP • Evidence of disability mainstreaming • Public access to information

7. Centre for Disability Studies Task 4 – comparative statistical data • Task Leader: Professor Jean-Francois Ravaud (CERMES) • Rapporteur: Professor Wim van Oorschot (Tilburg) • bottom-up approach • existing sources of comparative data (statistical focus) • opportunities and limitations

8. Centre for Disability Studies Task 5 – UN Convention and monitoring methods • Task Leader: Anna Lawson (Leeds) • top-down approach • framework of the UN Convention • working methods and indicators used in monitoring

9. Centre for Disability Studies Task 6 – OMC EU employment strategy • Task Leader: Professor Anne Waldschmidt (Koln) • Rapporteur: Professor Bent Greve (Roskilde) • Review National Reform Programmes (2007) • Evidence and examples of practical implementation • Country reports and calls for additional evidence • Thematic synthesis • Update on 2008 plans

10. Centre for Disability Studies Task 7 – OMC social inclusion and social protection • Task Leader: Professor Anne Waldschmidt (Koln) • Rapporteur: European Centre for Social Welfare Policy and Research (Vienna) • Review National Strategic Plans (2007) • Evidence and examples of practical implementation • Country reports and calls for additional evidence • Thematic synthesis • Update on 2008 plans

11. Centre for Disability Studies Task 9 – annual academic meeting • network Members • EU Commission • other stakeholders • Questions for today: • how can researchers contribute to evidence based disability policy in Europe? • how can European policy actors make best use of existing research?

12. Centre for Disability Studies