Representatives of the Youth with Disabilities Forum (YDF), Slađana Lević and Jovana Krivokuća-Milovanović, participated in the international conference “Leading Change in Disability Services”, held on May 14–15 in Porto, Portugal.

The conference was organized by the European Association of Service Providers for Persons with Disabilities (EASPD) and the Portuguese Federation for Intellectual Disabilities (Humanitas), bringing together more than 300 experts in disability support services from across Europe. The event was dedicated to the exchange of knowledge and experiences on how support systems can more effectively respond to users’ needs and contribute to improving their quality of life.

In light of the recently launched second phase of the EU Strategy for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the conference highlighted the importance of developing new organizational models that enable more inclusive approaches in employment, education, social protection, and independent living. A special focus was placed on the role of service providers in initiating and leading changes that foster greater inclusion of persons with disabilities in the community.

The participation of YDF representatives contributes to further strengthening international cooperation and the exchange of good practices, as well as to the improvement of national initiatives aimed at employment and social inclusion of persons with disabilities. The knowledge and contacts gained will serve as significant support for the continued development of YDF programs and advocacy activities in Serbia.

The European Association of Service Providers for Persons with Disabilities (EASPD) is a leading European network in this field, bringing together more than 20,000 organizations across over 50 countries, with the goal of advancing human rights and equal opportunities for persons with disabilities through high-quality and accessible support services.