Fostering Collaboration in Hungary

This week, the theme of collaborative work has been a major part of discussions with people working in Hungary. While there are over a thousand civil organizations in Hungary---formal and informal, state funding or private funding, representing a host of interests---the evolution of collaborative work is still in progress.  In the disability sector, collaboration across disability types represents an opportunity to seek social improvements that benefit many more people than one organization can achieve alone.

During her time last fall with Access Living, I know that Anett Csordás began thinking about how the different disability groups might collaborate more. There are common barriers across groups: lack of employment, education problems, support for parents, support for adults with disabilities who want to be independent. Anett's organization is newer than many groups, but they are not alone as other newer disability groups are also emerging.

Yesterday, Anett coordinated a meeting of several national Hungarian disability organizations as well as a few foundations that fund disability projects. The purpose of this meeting was first to have me present on how US disability groups work together, and then also for the groups to spend time together thinking about possibilities for collaboration. To a degree they already engage in collaboration with different groups, and also they incorporate leadership by people with disabilities to varying degrees, but the question is whether Hungary can build a powerful cross-disability movement to build opportunities that provide better inclusion and access for all.

I write on a flipchart while presenting to the Hungarian disability groups.

About twenty people attended the meeting. The organizations represented included:

...SINOSZ, the national organization providing service and advocacy for Deaf and hard of hearing people 
...MEOSZ, the national organization representing people with physical disabilities
...The National Association representing people who are both deaf and blind 
...The Hungarian Environmental Partnership Foundation which is an NGO working on environmental awareness and public education
...The Disabled Persons Equal Opportunities Network which provides a range of programs and advocacy for social inclusion
...The Bliss Foundation, which works on opportunities for children with disabilities
...The Hungarian Rett Syndrome Foundation, which focuses on people with Rett Syndrome
...The Oberon Foundation which serves adults with more complex disabilities including intellectual disabilities
...The Nem Adom Fel foundation, otherwise known as "I Won't Give Up." This organization has people with disabilities employed on staff and has a range of social programs, including a traveling band (US organizations that do disability arts should bring his group over)
...The Civil College, which fosters community organizing in Hungary
...The Angelman's Foundation, serving people with Angelman's syndrome
...The Hand in Hand Foundation, which works to promote opportunities for people with all disabilities but especially mental disabilities and multiple complex disabilities.

My presentation consisted of presenting on Access Living and its work within a variety of coalitions or networks.  For example, we work with the network of Centers for Independent Living, with ADAPT, with the Chicago Housing Initiative, with the Responsible Budget Coalition and more. Our connections provide us with greater access to people, ideas and resources, and give us more capacity to leverage for change.

I discussed the development of the Americans with Disabilities Act, the ABLE Act, and the Workforce Opportunities and Investment Act. For each of these national bills there was a significant level of cooperation and use of multiple strategies.  I shared in particular the story of Justin Dart and the use of multiple advocacy levels to achieve the ADA.

My audience listened generally with careful attention and had several questions. They wanted to know about the structure of early intervention and education in the US, as well as options for housing, especially for people with developmental disabilities. They also wanted to discuss how employment worked, and whether people were in integrated or segregated settings. These matters are both important and complex in Hungary, and in many ways very different structurally from their counterparts in the US.

However, the key component is whether these groups can have a discussion about whether they might form a joint coalition to perhaps focus on one or two key disability areas, such as education, employment or community integration. It is one thing to compare systems, and it is another to change it. Changing systems to improve outcomes and opportunities for people with disabilities can take a lot of time. But collaboration, particularly inclusive collaboration, is the next step. If these organizations could meet again to develop a joint plan for action, that would be another step on the way to progress.  But between yesterday's talk, and a possible coalition, I think more one-on-one meetings need to happen. Anett is committed to this process, and naturally has a personal stake because of her son.

I hope that Hungarians working for disability interests will remember this: each day that passes without improved education opportunities for children with disabilities is a day wasted in the investment of the future of Hungary. I believe that change and collaboration is possible. Yes, we can have those partnerships where everyone feels a real stake in a better future. We cannot afford to live without partnership.

Jaquie Algee talks about coalition building with the Professional Fellows group in Hungary.

In fact, today I am sitting in a room of about twenty Hungarian organizers talking about working together for social programs. The Hungarian Professional Fellows Country Director, Mate Varga, asked the US mentors to provide an advanced training on community organizing. I provided a training on constituency building; Jacquie Algee of SEIU HCIIMK provided a discussion on coalition building, and right at this very moment I am huddled in a corner typing while Branden Snyder of Michigan United presents on campaign planning.  There is hope and energy in the room for Hungary.