Activist for people with disabilities: “Hundreds of thousands no longer want to be controlled by others”

taz: Mr. Sanden, you are involved in the movement for a self-determined life - what is that exactly?

Florian Sanden: This is a very old and global self-advocacy movement of disabled people. It was created in the USA in the 1950s. The documentary “Crip Camp” told the story of the beginning very well. At summer camps, the Crip Camps, young disabled people came together to talk about discrimination and make political demands. A central goal to this day is to abolish residential care and replace it with services such as personal assistance. These are support people who help disabled people in everyday life, but disabled people remain in control themselves. The centers for self-determined living then developed from the movement. There, disabled people advise other people with disabilities.

Florian Sanden is an activist in the European Network for Independent Living (ENIL). He is also on the extended board of the advocacy group Self-determined Living, which represents disabled people in Germany.

taz: And the European Network for Independent Living ENIL then represents the European representation of this movement?

Sanden: Exactly, many Europeans with disabilities were there at the beginning of the US movement and founded the “European Network on Independent Living”, or ENIL for short, in Strasbourg in 1989: Sweden was the first European country to pass a law for the right to personal assistance in 1994. We were also very closely involved in the creation of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Article 19, the right to a self-determined life, is due to our work.

taz: There are currently plans to make major cuts in social services in Germany. How does this affect the self-determined lives of disabled people in Germany?

Sanden: For example, cuts to the Federal Participation Act are being discussed. But also in the additional independent participation advice, in which disabled people advise other people with disabilities. That's a shame because in Germany it's a flagship in a European comparison. The centers for independent living are also threatened by cuts. Very well organized structures are lost here.

taz: How are the cuts justified?

Sanden: The argument is that there is a supposed oversupply and too high costs. In many people's minds there is the image that equality would only cause costs and harm economic strength. The expenses for this can no longer be afforded in the current economic situation. There are similar developments in other EU countries. We are therefore calling for a fixed budget for self-determined living in the budget of the European Union.

taz: You are in Brussels these days and are networking with other activists. Why is this meeting significant for you?

Sanden: This is the only event of its kind in Europe organized by disabled people themselves. It is one of the few opportunities for disabled people to exchange ideas with other disabled people from all over Europe and to be able to openly show their disabilities. Self-advocates pass on their knowledge about inclusive education, personal assistance and many other topics in workshops. For many, this is an enormous expansion of their worldview and empowerment. And it's about advancing our political work.

The ENIL Freedom Drive takes place in Brussels every two years, this time from September 29th to October 1st. At the conference, people with disabilities from all over Europe exchange knowledge and experiences. They also discuss political demands.

There will also be a demonstration on October 1st to raise awareness of disability rights. The delegation also visits a hearing in the European Parliament. There she presents her demands directly to MEPs.

taz: On October 1st there will be a final demonstration at the European Parliament. There will then be a public hearing and the opportunity to speak to MEPs yourself. How politically effective are these conversations?

Sanden: This is very important for us as a small NGO because we can make it clear to decision-makers that we are a grassroots movement. Many people have not yet understood that our demands come from thousands of disabled people from all over Europe. We didn't come up with this as employees in an NGO. There are hundreds of thousands of people behind us who no longer want to be controlled by others. Making this clear helps to enforce our demands.