Self-Determination Academy
The Self-Determination Academy (SDA) project aims to support self-determination for people with intellectual disabilities, helping them develop skills, confidence, and support, while taking part fully in their communities. For that, society also has to be trained and empowered.
Blog
Kick-off Meeting do Self-Determination Academy (SDA)
On May 20th and 21st, Setúbal hosted the kick-off meeting of the Self-Determination Academy (SDA), with partners from Croatia (SUZAH), Ireland (As I Am), Belgium/Europe (Inclusion Europe), and Portugal (ADDHU, ISCTE, and Inovar Autismo). This project is co-funded by...
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The Project
The main objective of the Self-Determination Academy (SDA) project is to empower young people between the ages of 18 and 35, with and without disabilities, to become advocates and self-advocates for the human rights of persons with disabilities. The project aims to raise awareness among these young people, as well as their families and communities, about the importance of inclusion and the human rights of autistic people and those with intellectual disabilities. In addition, it seeks to educate them about their rights and responsibilities as citizens, promoting their active participation in society.
The project partners are:
- Inovar Autismo – Association for Citizenship and Inclusion (Portugal), the coordinating entity of the project;
- Iscte Knowledge and Innovation – Centre for Valorisation and Technology Transfer Association (Portugal);
- AsIAm (Ireland);
- Croatian Union of Associations for Autism (Croatia);
- Inclusion Europe (Belgium);
- ADDHU – Association (Portugal).
The needs that motivated the creation of the project include the low civic participation of autistic adults and adults with intellectual disabilities, the lack of training and opportunities for self-advocacy, limited access to information about human rights in accessible formats, and the persistence of discrimination and social exclusion.
The specific objectives of the Self-Determination Academy (SDA) are to strengthen the voice, autonomy, and decision-making power of autistic people and people with intellectual disabilities; to create a learning environment where they can develop and practise self-advocacy skills; to promote knowledge about human rights in an accessible, practical, and inclusive way; and to actively involve autistic people in social, community, and political processes, reinforcing their civic participation.
Partners
As I Am
AsIAm was founded in 2014 by our CEO, Adam Harris, based on his own experiences growing up as a young Autistic person in Ireland. Our vision is an Ireland in which every Autistic person is accepted as they are – equal, valued and respected.
Our purpose is to advocate for an inclusive society for Autistic people that is accessible, accepting and affirming. We work to support the Autistic community and their families to fully engage in Irish life and build the capacity of society to facilitate true inclusion. We are guided by and grounded in our living values. We commit to perseverance, same chance and service.
Inclusion Europe
Inclusion Europe represents people with intellectual disabilities and their families in Europe. We bring their voices where decisions are made and make sure their rights are respected. Our work focuses on equality, inclusion, and making sure that people with intellectual disabilities can take part in all areas of life: at school, at work, and in the community.
We work with our members across Europe to make inclusion a reality. Together, we fight discrimination, share good practices, and promote accessible information and participation. Our goal is simple: a Europe where people with intellectual disabilities and their families can live, learn, and belong as equal citizens.
ADDHU
The ADDHU – Association for the Defense of Human Rights is an International Non-Governmental Organization for Development (NGO) founded in October 2006 by Laura Vasconcellos. ADDHU’s mission is to design and implement projects in the areas of Global Citizenship Education, Development Cooperation, and Humanitarian Aid, promoting respect for Human Rights and contributing to the sustainable development of the communities it supports.
Believing that the best solutions lie within people and communities themselves, ADDHU adopts a partnership and empowerment approach, allowing a close understanding of real needs and the creation of long-term, positive-impact solutions. Its activities include work both in Portugal and abroad, particularly in Kenya, where
ADDHU supports the Wanalea Center, which provides shelter, education, and support to orphaned and vulnerable children, as well as training and empowerment initiatives for young people and rural communities living in poverty.
SUZAH
The Croatian Union of Associations for Autism (SUZAH) is a national umbrella organization that brings together associations of parents, professionals, and self-advocates working to improve the quality of life of autistic people in Croatia. Established in 1979 by families seeking better understanding and support for their children, SUZAH has evolved into a strong national network advocating for inclusion, accessibility, and equal rights. Through collaboration with local associations, public institutions, and international partners, SUZAH promotes awareness, education, and systemic change to ensure that autistic individuals of all ages can live with dignity and autonomy.
Today, SUZAH continues to strengthen the voice of the autism community through advocacy, training programs, and research initiatives. One of its key strengths lies in connecting local organizations across Croatia, building a coordinated national platform for knowledge exchange and peer support. By empowering families, professionals, and autistic self-advocates alike, SUZAH fosters cooperation and innovation that lead to more inclusive communities and lasting social impact.
Inovar Autismo
Constituted in 2016, Inovar Autismo assumes as its main mission to promote the inclusion of autistic children, youth and adults in their communities of belonging. The organization has as its vision the concept of “society for all”, by creating projects, training, mediating supporting both autistic persons and their social contexts and using the community as the focus of intervention and not only the person with disabilities and their family.
Inovar Autismo assumes itself as an incubator for new social responses, making their projects a way to challenge society for true inclusion, to deconstruct stereotypes and bias and to promote human rights. Within the association, there is a high-quality technical staff with experience in the field of autism and inclusion and public policies for disability.