Fostering Political Participation among Young Europeans with Intellectual and Psychosocial Disabilities
An initiative promoting civic engagement and participation of young individuals with disabilities in democratic life in the EU
GA number: 101186990
Funded by: Erasmus+ Duration: 01/11/2024-31/10/2026

Challenge
Academic studies and reports from the European Parliament, the European Commission, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) reveal multiple barriers faced by individuals with disabilities in exercising their democratic rights, ranging from legal obstacles to practical challenges.
The significant impact of disability on political participation, often referred to as the ‘disability gap’, highlights that despite progress in promoting inclusivity across various spheres, individuals with disabilities still face hurdles in exercising their democratic rights and are often perceived as engaging only in matters related to disability – a dehumanising assumption that fails to recognise them as fully developed and complex human beings.
Innovation
By promoting core EU values, encouraging civic engagement, and fostering inclusion and diversity, SPARK aims to empower youth organizations and local policy actors to lead initiatives for the inclusion of young people with disabilities in democratic life.
Action

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Research executive Agency. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
Project Partners

(Coordinator)



Cyprus

Spain

Italy

Cyprus