It’s Ability! Project Update: Multi-stakeholder Committee finalized the national reports

 

 

It’s Ability! Project Update: Multi-stakeholder Committee finalized the national reports

Since July 2025, the international Multistakeholder Committee (MSC) has held six online Working Meetings via Zoom, bringing together members from Germany, Poland, Lithuania, Ukraine, and Latvia.

The MSC unites 10 representatives from academia, civil society organizations, and the project’s target group. These meetings focused on issues and questions emerging during the research process, e.g. challenges in recruiting focus-group participants, unexpected interview findings, as well as language and emotional barriers.

The opportunity to exchange experiences, share impressions, and compare research progress across countries proved extremely valuable for the MSC members. Peer feedback and discussions within the group helped sharpen perspectives and deepen the overall research approach.

All three national reports are now finalized and are being analyzed by our research partner, the Latvian organization SUSTENTO. Their experts will synthesize the findings at the European level, leading to a publication, policy recommendations, and presentations at the international event in Riga in March 2026.

This project is organised by Austausch e.V. as part of the INKuLtur programme (Berlin) and the Lithuanian Disability Forum (Vilnius) In partnership with Polish Forum of Persons with Disabilities (PFON) (Warsaw). It is part of the Social Innovation+ Initiative funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or European Social Fund Agency. Neither the European Union nor the Granting Authority can be held responsible for them.