The French association "Union nationale des associations de parents, de personnes handicapées mentales et de leurs amis” (UNAPEI) is a parents’ union, that has been working for more than fifty years to improve the life conditions for mentally disabled persons in France. An important goal of the work international work of BAG WfbM is to cooperate in the field of the integration assistance at the European level. Therefore, Thomas Umsonst from BAG WfbM met this month with French colleagues in Paris to take a closer look at the current situation of securing the participation of persons with disabilities in working life.

BAG WfbM and UNAPEI also discussed strategic questions. Both associations are members of the European Umbrella Association of Service Providers for Persons with Disabilities (EASPD). This organization covers numerous themes on the integration of persons with disabilities. BAG WfbM and UNAPEI are the two biggest members of EASPD. Together, they represent about 360,000 persons with disabilities and about 5,500 institutions (from 8,000). More than half of these institutions offer services meant to integrate persons with disabilities into working life.

One of the main results of this meeting was that both organisations are going to formulate and assert joint standpoints within this European Umbrella Association. The meeting was also a chance to prepare the visit of the French colleagues of the Workshop:Fair in March 2010. Five Members of UNAPEI’s board will come to this event at Nuremberg.