EUCAP at the EDF Annual General Assembly and Conference “The Right to Decide: Legal Capacity and Pathways to Reform”
On 21st June in Vilnius, we at EUCAP were taking part in the European Disability Forum’s Annual General Assembly and the conference “The Right to Decide: Legal Capacity and Pathways to Reform”. The conference brings together activists, policymakers and experts committed to one idea: rights must be real — not just written.
“Everybody has rights – but having rights doesn’t mean being able to use them.”
Keynote speaker Markus Schefer from the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities shared a message that deeply resonates with our communities. Legal capacity is more than a legal concept. Therefore, it is about autonomy, recognition, and dignity.
Keynote speaker Prof. Markus Schefer, UN CRPD Committee, on the meaning of legal capacity.
Our Delegation
EUCAP attending the EDF conference in Vilnius, 21 June 2025. Front: Heta Pukki. Behind her: Imke Heuer (left) and Jo Minchin (right), EUCAP Board Members.
At this year’s conference, we have and exceptionally large five-person team to represent us:
Heta Pukki (President), Jo Minchin, Imke Heuer, and Silke Rudolph, members of our Board, are all attending, together with Alena Adameika, our Volunteer Coordinator, who also acts as personal assistant.
Moreover, we are not just attending to observe — we are here to represent autistic voices, bringing lived experience and direct perspective into spaces where it is too often missing. Our participation in the conference contributes significantly to such voices being heard.
From left to right: Silke Rudolph, Jo Minchin, Imke Heuer, Heta Pukki, Alena Adameika
Real Accessibility in Action
In fact, this year’s conference and General Assembly offer something rare and hopeful: improvements in meaningful accessibility. For the first time at this level, the organisers have provided text-based networking channels and sensory-friendly spaces where networking discussions are possible for those who struggle with communication in noisy environments.
Clearly, these accommodations matter. We don’t see these as luxuries or extras. Instead, we rely on them as essential tools that enable real participation.
“I am attending this year’s conference and AGA with a sense of joy and optimism, as the European Disability Forum has taken steps to take accessibility to a new level. EDF has responded to advice from our autistic communities.” “These are not just autism-friendly features, but universal design. We see them providing a more level playing field for many different groups — such as deaf and hard-of-hearing people, people with speech impairments or social anxiety, those who are prone to fatigue, and, as it turns out, those attending events like this for the first time.When accessibility is thoughtfully implemented, it benefits everyone. It removes invisible barriers not just for one group, but for many. And it sends a message: that everyone belongs here, fully and equally.” — Heta Pukki, EUCAP President
What must change for the Right to Decide to become reality
“It is a matter of great concern that there are still many European countries that don’t have supported decision-making included in their legislation.” — Heta Pukki, EUCAP President
While some countries have taken steps forward, many European governments still use paternalistic approaches to decision-making. s a result, many disabled people still lack the opportunity to fully exercise their rights, especially when it comes to major life decisions. The #RightToDecide principle must guide legal capacity reform across Europe.
A Look Inside the Conference
Alongside expert panels and keynote speeches, the visual presentations at the conference provided compelling insights into the current European landscape. One map — titled “Inclusion Indicators 2024” — highlighted the vast differences between countries in ensuring the right to decide and vote. These visuals brought the urgency of reform into sharp focus.
Sessions also addressed real barriers to supported decision-making, with visuals prompting discussion around how laws and systems can either empower or block participation.
In the room, accessibility was more than a principle – it was visible in practice: from live captioning and text displays to the presence of mobility devices and quiet participation spaces.
We don’t see these as luxuries or extras. Instead, we rely on them as essential tools that enable real participation.
