| Rules of the European Platform of Self-Advocates |
| 1. The European Platform of Self-Advocates is part of Inclusion Europe. |
| 2. Organisations of self-advocates from different countries can become members of the European Platform of Self-Advocates. |
| 3. In these self-advocates organisations, only persons with intellectual disability take decisions. |
| 4. These organisations may work in a city, a region or a country. |
| 5. Before we welcome a new self-advocates organisation, Inclusion Europe will ask information about this organisation to its members. |
| 6. Members of the European Platform of Self-Advocates are also members of Inclusion Europe. |
| 7. The European Platform of Self-Advocates meets at least once a year before the General Assembly of Inclusion Europe. |
| 8. Each member of the European Platform of Self-Advocates can send 1 representative to the General Assembly of Inclusion Europe. |
| The representatives are not allowed to vote but they can ask to speak. |
| 9. Each country in the European Platform has 10 votes. |
| Each member coming from the same country has the same number of votes. |
| For example: 5 members come from France, each member has 2 votes. |
| 3 members are for a decision; the 2 others are against this decision. |
| France gives 6 votes for a decision, 4 votes against this decision. |
| France = 10 votes |
| 5 organisations in France |
| Yes |
| No |
| 6 votes yes |
| 4 votes no |
| 10. Each member of Inclusion Europe pays a fee for 1 year. |
| The General Assembly of Inclusion Europe decides about the fee per country. |
| The fee is different for each country. |
| 11. If they are several members coming from 1 country, the members can decide themselves how to divide this fee. |
| Inclusion Europe has a minimum fee per member. |
| 12. The European Platform of Self-Advocates elects 1 Chairperson and 4 representatives. |
| The Chairperson and the 4 representatives form the Steering Group. |
| They come from different countries and support persons can help them. |
| 13. The Chairperson and the representatives are elected for 2 years. |
| They can be elected 3 times and work for a maximum of 6 years. |
| 14. The Steering Group chooses 2 representatives amongst its members. |
| The Chairperson and these 2 representatives are nominated for election to the Board of Inclusion Europe. |
| 15. The Chairperson of the European Platform of Self-Advocates will be proposed as vice-president of Inclusion Europe. |
| The other representatives of the European Platform of Self-Advocates can also be elected for other functions. |
| 16. The European Platform of Self-Advocates has 5 votes at the General Assembly of Inclusion Europe. |
| The Chairperson of the European Platform will tell the President of Inclusion Europe before the start of the meeting who will have the right to vote. |
| 17. During the meeting of the European Platform of Self-Advocates, support persons can help the self-advocates. |
| Support persons are not speaking for themselves, they are only there to help the self-advocates. |
| 18. The Director of Inclusion Europe can participate at the meetings of the European Platform of Self-Advocates as observer. |
| He is not allowed to take decisions. |
| 19. To become a member of the European Platform of Self-Advocates organisations have to send to the President of Inclusion Europe: |
| 1. The name and address of the organisation. |
| 2. The names of the Board members. |
| 3. A list of their members. |
| 4. Information about their activities. |
| 5. A copy of their constitution. |
| Dictionary |
| Board: |
| Persons who take decisions about the work and the budget of an organisation. |
| Chairperson: |
| Person who runs the meeting. |
| Constitution: |
| A list of laws which decide how an organisation is run. |
| Director: |
| Person who organises the work of Inclusion Europe. |
| Elect: |
| To choose a person. |
| Election: |
| When you choose a person it is called an election. |
| European Platform of Self-Advocates: |
| The organisation of self-advocates through Europe. |
| Fee: |
| Amount that an organisation has to pay to become member of Inclusion Europe. |
| Functions: |
| What a person does in an organisation. |
| For example: president is a function. |
| General Assembly : |
| Meeting which is organised once a year where the members of Inclusion Europe discuss about the activities and the accounts of the year ended. |
| Nominate: |
| To put someone forward for election. |
| Observer: |
| Person who participate at a meeting but he is not allowed to take decisions. |
| President: |
| Person who runs the work of the European Platform of Self-Advocates. |
| Representative: |
| Person who speaks for the European Platform of Self-Advocates |
| Self-advocates: |
| Persons with intellectual disabilities speaking for themselves and fighting for their own rights. |
| Steering Group: |
| A small group of self-advocates who work on the activities of the European Platform of Self-Advocates between its meetings. |
| Support Person: |
| Person who helps self-advocates in their work and meetings. |
| Vice-President: |
| Person who helps the President in his work. |
| He replaces the President when he cannot participate at a meeting. |
| Vote: |
| When persons choose to agree or disagree on a decision. |
| If you vote for a decision that means that you agree. |
| If you vote against a decision means that you disagree. |
