Proud, Strong and Visible

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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Say Hello to our new volunteer! Say Hello to our new volunteer!

We’ve just welcomed our new European Solidarity Corps (ESC) volunteer. Is name is Michael Brennan and he will be working with us in our …

March 13, 2024

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NEW joint ILO-ENIL report on Personal Assistance services worldwide NEW joint ILO-ENIL report on Personal Assistance services worldwide

The International Labour Organisation (ILO) and ENIL co-produced a report on personal assistance titled “Towards Dignity and Autonomy: A Comprehensive Look at Personal Assistance …

March 7, 2024

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Being Loud and Proud at the ZeroCon24 Being Loud and Proud at the ZeroCon24

From 21-23 February, we were in Vienna (represented by our Policy and Movement Officer, Kamil Goungor, and our ESC volunteer, Fionn Crombie Angus) for …

March 4, 2024

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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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Workshop on Artificial Intelligence and Independent Living

28/03/202428/03/2024

Workshop on Artificial Intelligence and Independent Living

On 28 March, from 15:45 to 16:45 CET, ENIL will deliver a workshop on Artificial Intelligence and Independent Living, as part of the online …

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From Words to Practice

22/03/202422/03/2024

From Words to Practice

Thematic workshops on the Guidelines on deinstitutionalisation, including in Emergencies Organised by the Global Coalition on Deinstitutionalisation Session No. 1: Introducing the thematic workshops …

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Launch of ENIL’s proposal for the<br>European Commission’s Framework for Social Services of Excellence for persons with disabilities

09/04/202409/04/2024

Launch of ENIL’s proposal for the
European Commission’s Framework for Social Services of Excellence for persons with disabilities

9th of April 2024 in the European Parliament, in Brussels Room A5E1, 14:00-16:00 CET Hosted by MEP Katrin Langensiepen In 2024, the European Commission …

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Contact us

Meet the team!

Our people

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