In December, the Swedish Agency for Participation hosted an online conference, titled ‘A barrier free future for every child’.
The conference took place under the Swedish Presidency of the Nordic Council of Ministers. It aimed to share ways to enable all learners’ participation in education and strengthen networks of experts and organisations representing learners with disabilities in Europe, with a particular focus on Ukraine and Nordic and Baltic countries.
The conference was opened by the Swedish Minister of Social Services, the Ukrainian Minister of Social Policy, the Secretary General of the Nordic Council of Ministers, and Ukraine’s UNICEF representative. Their opening speeches highlighted the importance of ensuring every child’s right to safety and protection, and to access high-quality inclusive education.
Participants in the conference included representatives from the European Commission, UNICEF, social and education ministries, and family and disability organisations from across Europe.
The first conference session focused on the situation in Ukraine, including its current inclusion initiatives. Other sessions explored national experiences of moving away from institutional support for children with disabilities to a community-based approach, and concrete examples of practice aiming for inclusion in society. These examples came from both the education and social sectors.
Elisabeth Högberg of the Swedish National Agency for Special Needs Education and Schools participated in the session on examples from the inclusive education sector. As Representative Board Member for Sweden, she shared the Agency’s Key Principles for inclusive education and examined the role of special provision in developing inclusive education. She also highlighted the importance of translating legislation and policy into practice to ensure inclusive education for all learners.
More information on the conference, including videos of the presentations, is available on the Swedish Agency for Participation website.
