There are around 15 million of persons with intellectual disability (PID’s) in Europe (POMONA II (2008). In recent years, policies in EU focus on increasing the democratic rights of PID’s. Article 29 of United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, states that PID’s must be able to participate fully and equally in political and public life, including the right to vote and be elected. However, PID’S encounter significant barriers to develop their Participation, Representation and Voting Rights (Guidelines on …, 2019. OSCE). According to European Digital Strategy 2020, the digital transition should work for all, fostering an open and democratic society. DIGITAL SOCIETY is both increasing opportunities for the exercise of Democratic Rights. However, the use of ICT is challenging for PID’S and a DIGITAL DIVIDE has gradually formed (Lussier-Desrochers, D. et.al. 2017). The main objective of the IDemocracy project has been to increase the competences of Persons with Intellectual Disabilities (PID's) and their Supporters in relation to the exercise of democratic rights of PID's in the Digital Society. And the specific objectives were: • To aware this target group about their rights and motivate to exercise them. • To develop the Critical Thinking and Decision-Making of PID’s regarding collective issues. • To increase the exercise of Participation, Representation and Voting Rights of PID’s at different levels: Organization, Community and Political Level: • To train Supporters (professionals, relatives, etc.) in how to enhance the representation, participation and voting of PID’s with full respect of their Rights. • To develop digital skills in the specific framework and trends related to the exercise of democratic rights in the Digital Society • To strengthen the cooperation between PID’S, Supporters and other relevant society Stakeholders (Community members, Public Administration and Political Parties,) The main results achieved through the implementation of this project have been: Participatory Design of the “Training Scheme” (I.O.1), with the direct participation of Persons with Intellectual Disabilities (PID’s) and their Supporters in the decision-making process about the definitive key contents, methodologies and tools to be used and created. "Training Activities in iDemocracy" (I.O.2) where People with Intellectual Disabilities (PID's) put into practice, throughout the training process, the exercise of participation, representation and voting rights at the levels in which they can be involved: Organisational, Community and Political levels. Development of more than 100 "Training Materials" (I.O.3) to be used by the trainees during the training process including contents on, democratic rights for PID's, understanding participation, representation mechanisms to boost PID participation, voting rights and PID's, and PID's in the Digital Society. Cognitive accessibility has been taken into account in the development of the training materials, given the difficulties of understanding PID's. Development of the "iDemocracy e-Training Tool" (I.O.4) as a means to enable the participatory and experiential digital approach of the training methodology where learners can participate in the training activities by developing new competences. IO.4 is the digital space of the training tool where learners can participate in the IO.2 Training Activities, accessing the IO.3 Training Materials while improving their competences in an experiential way. "PILOT VALIDATION ACTIONS" carried out in all countries of the Consortium with the participation of PID’S and Supporters (Spain, Portugal, Croatia, Lithuania, Greece and France). “NATIONAL MULTIPLIER EVENTS" have been carried out, with the total participation of 207 people, where the results of the project were presented to the main stakeholders of each country. The iDemocracy project has involved the following number of people in the above mentioned project activities during the life of the project: - 101 people (between Portugal, Spain, Lithuania, Croatia, Greece and France) in the IO.1 working sessions. - 106 people (between people with disabilities and supporters) have participated in the Pilot Actions for the validation of the project results. - 207 people (between Portugal, Spain, Lithuania, Croatia, Greece and France) participated in the Multiplier Events. - More than 15000 people from the different countries of the Consortium have benefited from the dissemination actions carried out in the project.
The main objective of the IDemocracy Project is to increase the competences of Persons with Intellectual Disabilities (PID’S) and their Supporters related to the exercise of democratic rights of PID’s in the Digital Society. Specific objectives: • To aware this target group about their rights and motivate to exercise them. • To develop the Critical Thinking and Decision-Making of PID’s regarding collective issues. • To increase the exercise of Participation, Representation and Voting Rightsof PID’sat different levels; Organization Level, Community Levell and Political Level: • To train Supporters (professionals, relatives, etc.) in how to enhance the representation, participation and voting of PID’s with full respect of their Rights. • To develop digital skills in the specific framework and trends related to the exercise of democratic rights in the Digital Society, including among others, use of online participation platforms, management of digital identity, contribution to collectives’ debates, etc. • To strengthen the cooperation between PID’S, Supporters and other relevant society Stakeholders (Community members, Public Administration, Political Parties, polling station staff and others).
Persons with Intellectual Disabilities (PIDs) encounter significant barriers in their efforts to access their Participation, Representation and Voting Rights; • Lack of Critical Thinking and Decision-Making of PID’s • Lack of Empowerment and Engagement of PID’s at the levels where they can be involved: Organization/Institution Level, Community Level and Political Level. • Lack of awareness and knowledge of Supporters (professionals, relatives) and Stakeholders (community members, Public Administration, Political Parties, polling station staff and others) • Lack of specific training and accessible communication methods fields for PID’s and Supporters (relatives, professionals, etc.) • In many countries, the Legal Framework restricts PID’S from participating in political life, including voting and candidacy processes The use of ICT is challenging for PID’S and a digital divide has gradually formed between them and the connected citizen.