ECRCD Mandate

Our vision focuses on disability in its current understanding, which we see as a cultural construct and not an objective reality, based on the difference brought by the reference to a set and ideal standard, customary set by means of social standards in the society at large.

The ECRCD concept of disability assumes a stepwise change of this cultural construct understood as a difference and a reference to a set standard. Arriving from the social perspective on disability as set forth by the World Health Organisation, the UN and the European Union, institutions supporting the concept of „adaptative environment”, we advance the concept of „individual standards”.

ECRCD believes that the social system, services and human relations should be adapted to individual standards so as to fit any individual. This would render the concept of disability, seen in seggregationist terms as normal people versus people with disabilities, meaning with temporary or definitive limitations of some abilities with reference to a set standard, as nul and without substance in actual terms/reality/circumstances. 

In other words, ECRCD advances and supports the thesis of the diversity of standards to which the environment, in its largest sense, would have to adapt. We believe that a set ideal standard, as a reference for normality, is deeply discriminatory and primitive, with seggregationist effects comparable to thos of racial nature: white versus black.

At the same time, we underline that terms such as special need and protection, albeit positive at a first glance, encourage the seggregationist idea of individuals divided into two distinct categories: normal and ubnormal, with the understanding that those ubnormal need, as result of humanitarian effort, a from of special extra protection derived from the so-called state of ubnormality they find themselves in.

ECRCD believes that the humankind has reached a level of sophistication that would require the change of paradigm from a primitive thesis of biological evolution – survival of the fittest – to one embracing diversity, providing free access to social life for all, based on individual standards.

ECRCD  believes that the promotion of the „multitasking”/multifunctional human profile, underneath a „performance” mask repersents a subversive form of imposition of a set and uniform standard for a diverse population, and the failure to live up to the standard would automatically lead to marginalisation, exclusion or seggregaion at the very least. Those many who do not fit the standard are left with a so-called form of special protection that the „performing” members of society would offer as a conciliation or a charitable gesture.

The ECRCD vision is therefore that disability is diversity. Diversity translates into individual standards reflected in human relationships, social services (education, healthcare, employment) and in legal terms that regulate aspects of social life.

Evolution does not mean performance against a set standard but individual standards. This approach cancels the idea of primitive pyramid-like evolution of human society and provides the framework for a wholistic development allowing for contributions from every individual with reference to individual standards.