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European Network on Independent Living

ENIL is a user-led network of disabled people, with members throughout Europe. Our mission is to advocate for Independent Living values, principles and practices: provision of personal assistance and other community supports and services, a barrier-free environment and adequate technical aids, together making full citizenship of disabled people possible.

Power chair user with microphone screaming with fist raised. Across the website, photos show ENIL members in everyday and activist settings. Some use wheelchairs. There is a mix of genders. Most have white skin.

About our organisation

ENIL is a network based on solidarity and peer support

ENIL is a forum for all disabled people, Independent Living organisations and their non-disabled allies on the issues of Independent Living. ENIL represents the disability movement for human rights and social inclusion, based on solidarity, peer support, deinstitutionalisation, democracy, self-representation, cross-disability and self-determination. Our vision is of Europe where all disabled people are able to exercise choice and control over their lives, on an equal level with others; where they are valued members of the community and can enjoy all of their human rights, as set out in the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

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What do we do ?

Campaigns

Learn more about our campaigns, such as the Freedom Drive.

Projects

Find out about our projects and download the project results.

Factsheet

Explore the themes ENIL is working on, such as Independent Living or deinstitutionalisation.

Join us!

ENIL provides a platform for grassroots activists and organisations

ENIL works to strengthen the empowerment of disabled people, through providing resources for peer support and peer-to-peer training. ENIL enhances the European disability sector by providing an arena for the sharing of disabled people’s experience of services and by providing expertise on independent living. Our Youth Network brings together young people, making their voice heard in the independent living movement.

Recent News

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In memory of John Evans OBE (1950 – 2025) In memory of John Evans OBE (1950 – 2025)

On Monday, 13th January 2025, we lost a pioneer of the Independent Living movement in the United Kingdom and Europe, and one of the …

January 17, 2025

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ENIL is Looking for 2 ESC Volunteers  ENIL is Looking for 2 ESC Volunteers 

The European Network on Independent Living (ENIL) is looking for two 6 months European Solidarity Corps volunteers, from 1 April 2025 to 31 October …

January 13, 2025

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The Struggles of Disabled People in Georgia The Struggles of Disabled People in Georgia

By Dea Eremashvili Thousands of people have been protesting in Georgia for more than 40 days. The demonstrations broke out after de facto PM …

January 8, 2025

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Independent Living Map

Find out about Independent Living in your country

The Independent Living survey was launched in 2020, to find about the state of independent living around Europe. Its results are updated regularly and shared with policy and decision makers at the European level.

Access IL Map

Upcoming Events

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Personal Budgets – An introduction              

25/02/202525/02/2025

Personal Budgets – An introduction              

First meeting of the ENIL Task Force on Independent Living When: 25th of February 2025, 11:00 – 12:30 CET Where: Online, Zoom   Personal assistance …

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Online memorial for Adolf Ratzka

21/01/202521/01/2025

Online memorial for Adolf Ratzka

The European Network on Independent Living, the Independent Living Institute and Doro Riedel-Ratzka cordially invite you to an online memorial event for Dr. Adolf …

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PAW – Personal Assistance Watch

PAW – Personal Assistance Watch

What is PAW? Personal Assistance Watch – PAW is a new space run by the European Network on Independent Living to discuss access to …

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Contact us

Meet the team!

Our people

Support our cause

Donate to ENIL!

Support ENIL here