A.R.F.I.E. was set up in 1992 as a European network to improve the assistance, social integration and social services available to people with disabilities; mainly heavily dependent people with learning difficulties and people with associated psychiatric disorders.
In 1993, A.R.F.I.E. was recognised as a European non governmental association (NGO) and worked in co-operation with its partners in the ‘Education’ sector under the European Commission’s Helios II - programme. In March ‘97 A.R.F.I.E. became a full member of the newly formed independent European Disability Forum - a political platform of disability associations in Europe.
A.R.F.I.E. members run training, life skills and placement courses for disabled people wishing to find work. They also train the staff who work with them, on all issues relating to the daily lives and needs of their clients. Our members are, for the most part, non-profit associations of parents and friends of disabled people, cooperatives employing disabled people, training centres for staff and disabled people alike, research institutes and centres which are committed to the empowerment of people with severe and multiple disabilities. We have an active and enthusiastic membership, and are open to members in all European countries.
A.R.F.I.E. also serves as a platform for professionals to compare and develop best practice across different countries with regard to quality of life and equal opportunities of disabled people. The social politics of disability has changed considerably in the last decade, so that there is now much more consensus regarding issues such as:
• non-discrimination and integration of disabled people
• equal opportunities
• the creation of flexible services and structures which respond to the needs and requests of disabled people
• the setting up of intermediary structures between total integration and institutions, which try to strike a balance between the clients’ need for protection and security
• the respect for the rights and self-determination of disabled people.In all fields, the need to improve and adapt the training of care staff (key workers, teachers, social workers) to meet the evolving needs of clients has become apparent.
New approaches still need to be explored, notably in areas such as:
• The development of a balanced dialogue with families
• Employment
• The ageing of disabled people - because disabled people are living longer - and because these people are generally being cared for by staff who are young and inexperienced in the needs of elderly disabled people.
• Severe and multiple disabilities: this is also a new and complex problem because it requires the setting up of appropriate awareness, education and development methods, as well as foreseeing rather unusual communication methods and a high quality lifelong personal assistance.
Certain new initiatives have already been taken by ARFIE in this field. A few of the themes already highlighted are: the burn-out syndrome, the dual problem of learning disability and mental illness combined, sexuality and personal relationships and ageing and disability. We would welcome input from any readers on these or any other field related to our work.
More information on ARFIE’s achievements can be found in the menu option Activities and Projects.