Proposal for a COUNCIL DECISION establishing a third Community action programme to assist disabled people ( HELIOS II ( 1992­96 ) )
Date: 1991-10-23
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: EU programme, European cooperation, disabled person, information system, social rehabilitation, vocational training

COMMISSION  OF THE EUROPEAN  COMMUNITIES 

COM(91) 350 final 

Brussels, 23  October 1991 

^ f e g g gl 

gjgÉpîî 

Proposal  for a 

COUNCIL  DECISION 

establishing a third Community  action programme  to assist 

disabled  people  (HELIOS  II (1992-96)) 

-  2 -

EXPLANATORY  MEMORANDUM 

THIRD COMMUNITY ACTION  PROGRAMME 

FOR DISABLED PEOPLE 

-  HELIOS  II* -  (1992-96) 

A.  REVIEW OF COMMUNITY  MEASURES FOR DISABLED PEOPLE 

1.  A multidimensional  approach 

With  some  thirty  million  nationals  affected  by  physical»  sensory, 
mental  or  psychological  disabilities  (about  10% of  the population), 
the  European  Community  is working  towards  the  economic  and  social 
integration  of  disabled  people  as  part  of  the  general  drive  to 
raise  the standard  of  living of all  its citizens. 
The  Member  States  first  signalled  their  commitment  in  this  field 
with  the establishment  of  a Social  Action  Programme  adopted  by  the 
Council  in  1974<1).  In  view  of  the  growing  needs  of  disabled 
people,  the  Commission  launched  a  first  Community  action  programme 
in 1983. 

Whereas  the  Community's  contribution  to national  efforts  initially 
focused  on  the  technical  exchange  of  experiences,  it  subsequently 
turned  its  attention  to  devising  a  comprehensive,  consistent 
policy,  entailing  the  preparation  of  various  Community  instruments 
in  favour  of  disabled  people.  Thus,  the  Council  adopted  a 
Recommendation  in  1986(2),  concerning  the  employment  of  disabled 
people,  and  a  programme  of  European  collaboration  on  the 
integration  of  handicapped  children  into  ordinary  schools  was 
introduced  in 1987(3). 
A  further  step  was  taken  in 1988, with  the adoption  by  the Council 
of  the  second  Community  action  programme  covering  the  period  1988-
1991(4),  which  was  designated  HELIOS  (Handicapped  People  in  the 
European  community  Living  Independently  in  an  Open  Society).  Its 
purpose  was  to extend  and  build  on  the  activities  of  the  previous 
programme, with  special  emphasis on helping  disabled  people  to  live 
more  independently. A  framework,  basis  and  criteria  were  thus  laid 
down  for  the  development,  at  Community  level, of  a  comprehensive, 
consistent  policy,  in the  form of  practical, concrete  proposals  in 
various key sectors. 

Over  the  last  few  years,  various  provisions  have  been  adopted  in 
different  fields relating  to disabled  people. 

* 

HELIOS:  Handicapped  people  in  the  European  community  Living 
Independently  in an Open  Society 

(1) 0J  No C  13, 12.2.1974, p. 1. 
(2) 0J  No L 225, 12.8.1986, p. 43. 
(3) 0J  No C 211, 8.8.1987, p. 1. 
(4) 0J  No L 104, 23.4.1988, p. 38. 

2) 

-  3 -

On  the  basis  of  a  Commission  report,  the  Council  gave  its 
conclusions  in  1989(5) on  the  employment  of  disabled  people, with 
a  view  to  ensuring  equal  opportunities  in  access  to  vocational 
training  and employment  by encouraging  the participation of all  the 
parties  involved. 

The  Community  Charter  of  Fundamental  Social  Rights  of  workers 
contains a section on disabled people. 

With  a view  to  implementing  the Charter, the Commission  drew up  an 
action  programme  and  submitted  to  the  Council  a  proposal  for  a 
Directive  on  the  mobility  and  transport  of  persons  with  reduced 
mobility*6).  Mobility  and  the  provision  of  transport  to  the  place 
of  work  are  an  integral  part  of  the  vocational  integration  and 
individual  development of disabled people. 

In  1990,  the  Council  of  Ministers  adopted  a  Resolution  concerning 
the  integration of children and young people with  disabilities  into 
ordinary  systems of  education*7). 

2.  Other  Community  programmes, activities and  initiatives for  disabled 

peopIe 

The  Commission  has,  over  recent  years,  launched  a  range  of 
programmes,  activities  and  initiatives  with  a  view  to  meeting  the 
specific needs of  disabled people. 

A  general  overview  of  these  activities  is  set  out  in  Annex  a 
(p. 14). 

B.  OBJECTIVES AND PROVISIONAL REPORT ON THE HELIOS  I PROGRAMME 

The aims of  the HELIOS  I action programme were: 

to  identify  innovatory  approaches  and  measures  with  a  view  to 
improved  convergence  and  coordination of  measures  taken  in the 
Member  States  for disabled  people, 

to  add  a  Community  element  in  respect  of  the  integration  of 
disabled  people  through  an  exchange  of  information  and 
exper ience, 

to  improve  participation  at  Community  level  on  the  part  of 
disabled  people and  their organisations. 

(5) 0J  No C  173, 8.7.1989, p. 1. 
(6) C0M(90) 588 final. 
(7) 0J  No C  162, 3.7.1990, p. 2. 

-  4 -

In  accordance  with  the  Council  Decision  of  18  April  1988  on  the 
establishment  of  the  HELIOS  I  action  programme,  the  Commission 
presented 
the 
implementation  and  the  results  of  HELIOS  I. The  final  report  wit! 
be submitted  by  1 July  1992 to the European  Parliament,  the  Council 
and  the Economic  and  Social  Committee. 

report  on  6 December 

1990  on 

interim 

an 

A  report  on  work  undertaken  under  HELIOS  I  Is  set  out  in Â n rm  ^ 
(p. 19). 

C.  PROGRAMME  AND GOALS, HELIOS  II  (1992-96) 

1.  Preparation of  the  proposal 

This proposal  is based on: 

the 

with 

consultation 

circles:  a*vl 
extensive 
authorities directly concerned. Over  100 suggestions  (about  250 
pages)  were  received  by  the  Commission,  mainly  from  disabled 
individuals  and  organisations  for  disabled  people,  scisniifk 
specialists  and persons working  on a professional  and  voluntary 
basis  on  rehabilitation  and  other  local, regional  and  n%*Umzt 
activities; 

persons, 

numerous  consultations  on  intermediate  projects  discussed  t 
meetings  of  the Advisory  Committee,  the  Liaison  Group,  °v  *<\ ; 
Dialogue  Group  and  the Group on  integration  in schools; 

analysis  of  positive  elements  emerging  from  eva h^  '  <  f 
activities under  earlier  programmes. 

This broad  consultation  demonstrated  the considerable  <i6$r-*~ -
interest  on  the  part  of  Member  States'  rep  ese^»-w;.-
vis."  K 
rehabilitation 
individuals  and  organisations  representing  them,  in  taking  ? 
active  part  in  the  definition  of  Joint  objectives  for  ^ 
development  of  an  overall  strategy  for  the  integration  of 
disabled  people. 

professionals 

particularly 

and 

2.  Objectives of HELIOS II 

With  a  view  to  stimulating  a  comprehensive,  consistent  and 
coordinated  policy  for  the  full  integration  of  disabled  people, 
HELIOS  II  set  out  to devise  common  approaches  in a wide  variety  of 
fields  such  as  prevention  and  early  assistance,  functional 
rehabilitation,  integration  in  the  education  system,  continuing 
training,  vocational  guidance  and  training,  employment,  new 
technologies,  technical  aids  and  databases,  independent  living, 
access  to  cultural,  creative,  sports,  leisure  and  tourism 
activities,  family  life,  the elderly,  and  the  social, economic  and 
legal  protection  of  disabled  people. 

-  5 

Compared  with  HELIOS  I,  the  proposal  for  HELIOS  II  has  been 
extended  to  cover  prevention  and  early  assistance,  functional 
rehabilitation,  integration  in  nursery  schools  and  further 
education,  continuing  training, and  access  to creative, sports  and 
tour ism act ivit les. 

In  HELIOS  II,  the  attention  devoted  to  new  technologies  will  be 
intensified  in  all  fields,  particularly  in  respect  of  the 
adaptation  of  workplaces, and  technologies which  can  help  overcome 
the  isolation  of  disabled  people  and which  further  the  educational 
process. 

HELIOS  II  also  makes  provision  for  extending  the  organisation  of 
competitions  and  the  award  of  prizes  in such  fields  as  employment 
and  vocational  training,  school  integration,  creative  activities, 
sport  and  tourism, all  in close collaboration with  the media. 

The  activities  envisaged  for  the  HELIOS  II  programme  are  thus 
geared  to  interaction,  a  common  approach  and  coordination,  which 
are  seen  as  essential  for  consolidating  the  benefits  of  the 
programme  in  all  directions  and  achieving  the  fullest  possible 
integration,  integration  is  in fact  perceived  as  a  whole  and  may 
not  be  regarded  as achieved  if disabled people are unable  to profit 
from  each  of  its  constituent  elements.  Consequently,  integration 
in  the  field  of  education  is, especially  and  simultaneously,  the 
precursor  of vocational  and economic  integration and  is a factor  in 
individual  fulfilment, construed  as  the capacity  to enter  into all 
forms  of  activity  and  areas  of  social  life.  HELIOS  II  will 
therefore  promote  a  greater  Joint  effort  and  increased  dynamic 
cooperation  between all  its participants, and  its effects should  be 
enhanced  by  the  back-up  provided  by  other  related  Community 
programmes  (particularly HORIZON and  TIDE). 

3.  Measures 

In addition  to  the  promotion  and, where  appropriate, establishment 
of  policy  guidelines  for  the  Commission  at  Community  level  in 
respect  of  integration  problems  faced  by  disabled  people,  three 
interactive  aspects  will  be  pursued,  intensified  and  restructured 
under  HELIOS  I I: 

1)  Technical  cooperation 

Implementation  of  positive  measures  focusing  on  the  needs  of 
disabled  people  at  local  level,  through  technical  cooperation 
developed  by  the Community  networks and  representative European 
non-governmental  organisations,  with  the  aim  of  exchanging 
information  and  sharing  innovative  and  effective  experiences 
among all  those  involved at European  level. 

- 6 -

2)  HANDYNET  information  and documentation 

of 

development 

and 
Joint 
information 
documentation  system  covering  every  aspect  of 
the 
coordinated  rehabilitation and  integration  process, for  the 
benefit  of  disabled  people  and  all  those  involved  in  this 
process. 

an  extended 

3)  Consultation 

Establishment of structures. 

The  proposal  is  to  intensify  the  action  undertaken  on 
behalf  of  disabled  people,  emphasising  such  aspects  as 
prevention,  disabled  women,  carers,  elderly  disabled 
people,  training  those 
increasing  the 
awareness of  the general  public and specific  target groups. 
Promoting  the  integration  of  disabled  people  requires 
action  at  several  levels  and  cuts  across  the entire  social 
spectrum.  The  commitment  to  tackling  the  problems  of 
disabled  people  has  been  clearly  expressed  on  several 
occasions  and  there  is no  doubt  that  the  Community  wishes 
to continue and consolidate the measures  taken. 

involved  and 

3.1. Technical  cooperation 

Three  activities  are  proposed  under  the  heading  of  technical 
coopérât ion: 

networks  of  innovative  Local  Integration  and  Exchange 
Activities 
functional 
rehabilitation,  integration  in the  fields of  education  and 
training,  vocational  training  and  employment,  and  social 
intégrât ion; 

(A.I.L.E.)<8) 

focusing 

on 

non-governmental 

cooperation  at  several  levels  with  the  representative 
(EURAS)^8), 
European 
responsible  for  organising  annual  Innovative  theme-based 
Rehabilitation  Activities 
areas 
connected with  the  integration of disabled  people; 

organisations 

(A.I.R.)<8) 

in  all 

public  awareness-raising  through  a  programme  of  awards 
given  for  pilot  projects  on  aspects  of  employment, 
independent 
to 
living,  technical 
creativity, tourism and  leisure. 

access 

aids 

and 

(8) The acronyms A.I.L.E., A.I.R.  (which are pronounced  phonetically [" 
L " ], ["  RM3) and  EURAS are the same  in all  the Community  languages 
and  are used  as singular  and plural. 

-  7 

3.1.1.  Community  networks  of  innovative  Local  Integration  and 
exchange Activities  (A.I.L.E.) 

The  innovative,  local  nature  of  specific  activities  should  be 
retained,  albeit  changing  the  names  given  to  the  networks  in 
order  to  extend  the  scope  beyond  pilot  projects  and  to 
emphasise  the  innovative  nature  and  the  final  objective  of 
integration  in respect of all  the projects selected. Members of 
the  Community  networks  must  satisfy  strict  criteria  for 
participation  and  must  achieve  precise,  specific  results  with 
regard  to  annual  themes  submitted  to  them  in  liaison  with  the 
Member  States.  The  greater  effectiveness  called  for  is  a 
to  coordinate  a  consistent, 
consequence  of 
comprehensive  Community  policy,  in  which  the  Commission  is 
assisted  by  outside  experts.  The  A.I.L.E.  Community  networks 
will  be  required  to  intensify  their  cooperation  with  the 
HANDYNET  system  and  the European non-governmental  organisations 
(EURAS). 

the  need 

The  Community  networks  are  obliged  not  only  to  encourage  the 
most  effective action but also to transfer  the best  experiences 
and  practices,  taking  account  of  the  earliness,  overall 
applicability, continuity and diversity of  individual  measures. 
This  increased  assessment  of  activities  should  help  to 
consolidate  the  spin-offs  from  HELIOS  II  for  the  benefit  of 
disabled  people and  their  relatives. 

The  programme  of  activities  of  these  networks  comprises  study 
visits,  training  courses,  seminars,  conferences  and  other 
Europe-wide  Joint  activities, covering  the  following areas: 

HELIOS  II  will  set  up  a  new  Community  network  dealing 
specifically with  the functional  aspects of  rehabilitation. 
The  specialised  nature  and  precise  remit  of  this  network 
will  give  a  boost  to  the  full  range  of  medical  practices 
involved  in  the  general  integration  of  disabled  people  by 
way of  a continuing  and consistent  rehabilitation process. 

The  network  dealing  with  integration  in  the  educational 
field  will  continue  its work  under  HELIOS  II  to  bring  out 
the  full  potential  of  disabled  children  and  to  respond  to 
the  expectations  of  their  parents  and  to  the  needs  of 
disabled  adults.  The  aim  here  is  to  achieve  the  maximum 
degree of  integration  into mainstream educational  systems. 

Where  HELIOS  I  concentrated  on  primary  and  secondary 
education,  HELIOS  II will  continue  the  work  and  extend  it 
to  nursery  schools,  higher  education  and  continuing 
training. 

-  8 -

In the  field of economic and vocational  integration, HELIOS 
I  sought  to  promote  vocational  training  and  facilitate 
employment  in a normal working environment, without  however 
neglecting  provisions  to  ease  the  transition  to  the 
ordinary  working  environment. HELIOS  II will  continue  this 
work  and extend  it to sheltered  employment, to which end  an 
awareness campaign will  be mounted  among workers, firms and 
employers. 

accessibility 

The  network  dealing  with  independent  living,  which  was 
already  in  existence  at  the  time  of  HELIOS  I,  will  be 
stepped  up  for  HELIOS  II  to  cover  the  urban  environment, 
new 
to 
housing, 
technologies  and  domestic  aids,  all  features  which  are 
essential  to enable  disabled  people  to  live as  independent 
a  life  as  possible.  Independent  living  is also  one  of  the 
main  areas  for  influencing  public  opinion  and  certain 
managers, 
target 
architects,  etc.).  The  scope  will  be  extended  to  elderly 
disabled  people and  to the families of  disabled  people. 

decision-makers 

buildings, 

groups 

public 

(local 

or 

3.1.2.  Contribution  towards  European  cooperation  with  Europe-
wide  representative non-governmental  organizations. 

Cooperation  with  European  disabled  people  is  arranged  through 
the  intermediary  of  European  non-governmental  organisations 
(EURAS)  representing  various  types  of  disability  or  specific 
integration  issues  in the Member  States. 

Such  cooperation  will  be  carried  out  in  the  context  of 
Innovative  theme-based  Rehabilitation  Activities  (A.I.R.). 
These  will  entail  exchanging  information,  experiences  and 
efficient  practices  in  all  the  fields  relating  to  the 
integration  of  disabled  people,  i.e.  prevention  and  early 
assistance,  functional  rehabilitation,  integration  in  the 
fields  of  education  and  training,  vocational  training  and 
employment,  new  technologies,  technical  aids  and  data  bases, 
independent  living, access  to cultural  activities,  creativity, 
sports,  leisure  and  tourism,  families  and  the  elderly,  and 
social,  economic  and  legal  protection.  These  Innovative 
Rehabilitation  Activities  (A.I.R.)  reflect  the  activities 
undertaken within  the A.I.L.E. Community  networks  and HANDYNET, 
and  are  to  be  carried  out  by  means  of  conferences,  seminars, 
study  visits,  training  courses  and  other  Europe-wide  Joint 
activities,  on  the  basis  of  annual  themes  determined  by  the 
Commission  in  liaison  with  the  European  non-governmental 
organisations  (EURAS). Setting  annual  themes will  help  the  NGOs 
(EURAS)  to make  better  use of  their  expertise.  It  is essential 
to  intensify  cooperation  between  them  and  the  Community 
A.I.L.E. and HANDYNET system networks. 

-  9 -

3.1.3. Fostering public awareness 

HELIOS  II  will  attach  much  more  importance  to  raising  public 
awareness  and  disseminating  information  on  the  problems  of 
integrating  disabled  people, addressing  the  programme  partners 
and  the general  public. 

To  this  end,  competitions  will  continue  to  be  organized  and 
prizes  awarded  in  the  field  of  independent  living,  the  scope 
being extended  to  include employment, technical  aids and  access 
to creativity, tourism and  leisure activities. Priority will  be 
given  to media  activities  aimed  at  increasing  the  awareness  of 
the  general  public  and  specific  target  groups  as  to  the 
potential  for  integrating disabled  people. 

Arrangements  for  the  dissemination of  information  under  HELIOS 
I  will  be  intensified  at  Community  level  and  brought  in  at 
national  level. 

3.2. HANDYNET  information and document ion system 

HANDYNET  Is  a  multiIingual  European  computerized  information 
system  designed  to provide  information  to  disabled  people on  a 
variety  of matters,  including  their  specific  needs. 

HANDYNET  is a  European  prototype  and  is unique  by  dint  of  its 
use  of  nine  languages-,  it has been  developed  step-by-step,  and 
became  operational  in  1990  thanks  to  the  collaborative  effort 
of  specialists from all  countries. 

In HELIOS  I, HANDYNET  was  concerned  solely  with  technical  aids 
for  those  with  a  motor,  visual  or  communication  disability, 
plus educational  software. 

Under  HELIOS  II,  it will  be extended  to vocational  training  and 
employment,  accessibility  and  transport,  sports,  leisure, 
tourism and creative activities. 

The  system  can  be  used  in  three  ways:  as  a  database,  an 
electronic mail  system  and  as an electronic  Journal. 

HANDYNET  plays  an  innovative  and  precursor  role  in  respect  of 
European  networks  and  mult 11inguism,  and  has  major  social, 
economic  and scientific  implications. 

At  the  social  level,  it enables  disabled  people  to  choose,  in 
their  own  language,  what  is  the  most  appropriate  and  least 
expensive  technical  aid  by  comparing  the  range  of  products  on 
the  market.  It  also  enables  politicians,  administrators  and 
social  workers  to acquire  the kind of  information they need  for 
policy purposes. 

10 -

In  economic  terms,  the  information  available  in  the  system 
serves  to  break  down  barriers  and  make  the  market  more 
transparent.  This  should  remove  barriers  between  the  Member 
States,  improve  quality  and  reduce  costs  thanks  to  sharper 
competition,  and  the  increased  play of  supply  and  demand  should 
help  the market  to develop. 

At  the  scientific  level,  being  able  to  compare  products  and 
their  special  features  will  generate  a  research  effort  which 
should  help  develop  the  use  of  new  technologies  in  improving 
technical  aids. 

3.2.1. Database 

As  requested  by  the  Council  in  its  Decision  of  18  December 
1989,  the  HANDYNET  system  became  operational  in the  first  half 
of  1990. 

The  system  hinges  on  national  data  collection  centres 
designated  by  the  Member  States  to  constitute  a  European 
collection and  information  network. 

The  national  centres  collect  information  on  technical  aids 
available  in  their  particular  Member  State  and  forward  it  in 
their  cvn  language  to  a  central  HANDYNET  coordinating  unit, 
which  then  processes  the  data  to  make  them  available  in  the 
nine Community  languages. 

These  data  relate  to  technical  aids,  commercial  and  non 
commercial  producers  and  distributors,  and  to  the  rules  and 
regulations  in  force  in  the  country  in  question  on  the 
acquisition or  lease of such aids. 

Thanks  to the cooperation  between  the collection centres  in the 
technical  coordination  group,  collection  input  forms  were 
simplified  to  make  the  collection  procedure  faster.  So  far 
(23 September  1991),  13 316  items  of  information  have  been 
collected  on  technical  aids  for  persons  with  motor,  visual  and 
communication  disabilities,  together  with  an  inventory  of 
education  or  rehabilitation software. 

Each  national  data  collection  centre  can  thus  consult  the 
HANDYNET  European  database  by  telephone,  although  there  are  a 
number  of  drawbacks  to this procedure. 

To  overcome  these,  it  was  decided  to  replace  the  "on  line" 
system  by  a much  faster  and  decentralised  system  (CD-ROM),  i.e. 
a  compact  disc  supplied  to  each  of  the  national  centres  and 
updated  at  regular  intervals. 

The  HANDYNET  system  is thus now operational  for  the  collection 
of  data-, work  is concentrating  at  the  moment  on  achieving  as 
wide  a  dissemination  as  possible  of  this  information  by  the 
national  and  regional  information centres. 

-  11 -

Training  for personnel  at  these centres  in the Member  States  is 
provided  for under  the HORIZON  initiative and will  call  as much 
as possible on  the services of disabled  people. 

Disabled  people's  information  requirements  ar% not  limited  Just 
to  technical  aids;  what  is  needed  is  the  same  kind  of 
information  on  matters  essential  to  a  frontier-less  Europe, 
i.e.  labour  market,  accessibility,  transport,  tourism  and 
sport. 

3.2.2. Electronic mail  and electronic  Journal 

The  structure  adopted  for  the HANDYNET  system  made  it  possible 
to  develop  a  communication  and  information  system  linking  the 
members  of  the  network  by  electronic  mail  and  an  electronic 
Journal. 

Under  HELIOS  I, the above  facilities were available only  to the 
national  data collection centres; under  HELIOS  II, they will  be 
extended  to all  programme  partners. 

3.3  Extended  consultation  structures 

The  Advisory  Committee which  was  set  up under  HELIOS  I will  be 
retained  for  HELIOS  II.  Alongside  this  committee,  the 
Commission  intends  to  maintain  and  enlarge  the  liaison  group 
and  to  bring  in,  along  with  the  government  representatives, 
representatives  of  the  non-governmental  organisations  and  of 
the social  partners. 

The  dialogue  group  will  also  be  formalized  under  HELIOS  II. 
This group  comprises only  representatives of  the  representative 
European  non-governmental  organisations,  the  aim  being  to 
exchange  views on HELIOS  II activities. 

4.  Conclusion 

HELIOS  II  is  therefore  intended  to  maintain,  promote  and 
intensify  the  activities  undertaken  in  HELIOS  I,  which 
consisted  of  supporting  the  efforts  being  made  in  the  Member 
States  and  to  increase  cooperation  and  coordination  of 
activities  at  local,  regional,  national  and  Community  levels. 
Consequently,  the  Commission  is  proposing  to  the  Council  the 
implementation  of  a  third  action  programme  designated  HELIOS 
II,  embracing  all  types  of  disability  and  integration  issues, 
with  the  aim  of making  significant  advances  for  the  benefit  of 
disabled  people,  who  are  constantly  confronted  with  their 
limitations  and  find  life  a permanent  struggle.  The  programme 
is constructed  in such  a way  as  to  take  account  of  the  wishes 
of  disabled  people,  their  families  and  others  involved,  and 
reflects  the  recommendations, resolutions, opinions  and  wishes 
expressed  in  particular  by  the  European  Parliament  and  other 
international  and  Community  organizations  and  bodies.  For  the 
purpose of  carrying out  this programme,  it appears  necessary  to 
extend  its  application  over  a  period  of  five  years,  from  1992 
to 1996. 

-  12 -

D.  COMMENTS ON THE ARTICLES OF THE PROPOSAL  FOR A DECISION 

ARTICLE 1 

Article  1  sets  out  the  aim  of  the  HELIOS  II  programme,  which 
extends  the  scope  of  the  HELIOS  I  programme,  embracing  in 
particular  activities  connected  with  prevention,  functional 
rehabilitation  and  various  areas  of  social  integration  (sports, 
leisure, tourism  and  culture). 

Integration  in the  field of  education  is now  formally  and  directly 
included  as one  of  the  aims of  the  HELIOS  II programme.  In HELIOS 
I, education  was  included  indirectly, being  limited  to  the  primary 
and  secondary  sectors.  In  HELIOS  II,  it  is  extended  to  nursery 
schools,  university  and  other  higher  education  and  continuing 
training. 

HELIOS  I  looked  at  vocational  and  economic  integration designed  to 
bring  more  attention  to  bear  on  the  transition  to employment  in a 
normal  environment. HELIOS  II will  bring  in further  elements, viz. 
guidance and  assessment, the adaptation of workplaces and work  in a 
sheltered environment. 

HELIOS  I covered  a  four-year  period, whereas  HELIOS  II will  extend 
over  f ive years. 

ARTICLE 2 

Article  2  concerns  the  scope  of  HELIOS  II,  with  a  general 
definition of  disability.  In view of  the many different  categories 
of  disabled  people  to  whom  the  Community  action  applies,  it  has 
been  necessary  to  amend  this  Article  in  relation  to  the  HELIOS I 
programme,  taking  into  consideration  the  classification  of  the 
World  Health  Organization.  This  classification, which  is now  used 
in  an  increasing  majority  of  Member  States,  provides  a  means  of 
covering  all  the  persons  targeted  by  the  Community  action, 
regardless  of  the  origin  of  the  disability:  physical  (including 
sensory)  and  mental  (including  psychical) or  disability  resulting 
from a serious chronic  ailment. 

ARTICLE  3 

Article  3  sets  out  the  various  fields  of  activity  under  the  new 
programme,  going  on  to  set  out  the  aims  of  work  in each  of  these 
fields: 

a)  a comprehensive Community  policy, 

b)  identification of  innovâtive measures, 

c)  continued  development of exchange and  information  activities at 

Community  level, 

d)  improved cooperation with  the European  NGOs. 

-  13 -

ARTICLE 4 

Article  4  refers  to  the  measures  necessary  for  implementing  the 
HELIOS  II  programme.  These  can  be  broken  down  into  general  and 
specific measures. The first of  the general  ones concerns technical 
cooperation  within  the  networks  and  collaboration  with  the  NGOs. 
The  second  measure,  HANDYNET,  describes  the  arrangements  for  the 
collection  and  dissemination  of  information,  and  for  stimulating 
research.  The  third  measure  concerns  participation  on  the  part  of 
disabled  people  and  their  representative  organisations,  while  the 
fourth covers cooperation with other  international  organisations. 

The specific measures are explained  in detail  in the Annex. 

ARTiae  § 

Article 5  is unchanged  vis-à-vis HELIOS  I, and makes the Commission 
responsible  for  implementation of HELIOS  II. 

ARTICLE 6 

Article 6 sets up an advisory committee to assist  the Commission  in 
implementing  the  programme  and  spells  out  what  matters  the 
committee  is required  to advise on. 

ARTICLE  7 

Article  7  provides  for  an  interim  report  to  be  drawn  up  by 
31 December  1994 and a final  report  to be produced  by  1 July 1997. 

The two reports are to be addressed  to the European Parliament, the 
Council  and  the Economic and Social Committee. 

-  14 -

A N N E X E? 

Annex  a  :  REVIEW OF OTHER  COMMUNITY  PROGRAMMES» 
ACTIONS AND  INITIATIVES 
IN FAVOUR  OF DISABLED PEOPLE 

A.  Specific measures  for disabled  people 

1.  TIDE  initiative 

Technology  for  the  socio-economic  Integration  of  Disabled  and 
Elderly people. 

2.  HORIZON  in it iat ive - Targeting disabled  people 

Community  initiative  geared  to  improving  the  conditions  of 
access  to  the employment  market  for  disabled  and  disadvantaged 
persons. 

B.  Other  Community  programmes,  actions  and  initiatives  focusing  on 

disabled  people 

1•  European  Social  Fund  (ESF) 

Disabled  people constitute one of  the ESF's target  groups, with 
the emphasis on  long-term unemployment  and  young  people  without 
Jobs. 

2.  European  Regional  Development  Fund  (ERDF) 

The  ERDF  covers activities  in the  fields of  health  and  training 
in various  regions of  the Community,  providing  effective  back 
up  to  the measures  undertaken  within  the  context  of  the  HELIOS 
programme. 

3.  Human  resources, education, training  and  youth 

All  of  the  following  programmes  give  priority  to  the 
participation of  disabled  people: 

a)  ERASMUS:  European  Community  action  scheme  promoting 
mobility  of  university  students  and  cooperation  in  higher 
education  (1990-94). 

b)  LINGUA:  Programme  to promote  foreign  language  competence  in 

the European Community  (1990-94). 

c)  ARION:  Scheme  of  study  visits  for  education  specialists. 
Community  cooperation  programme  designed  to  improve  the 
quality of educational  systems. 

d)  Youth  for  Europe:  Action  programme  for  the  promotion  of 

youth exchanges  in the Community  (1992-94). 

4.  Health  and safety  at work 

- 15 -

The  framework  Directive  on  the  introduction  of  measures  to 
encourage  improvements  in the safety  and  health  of  workers  at work 
(89/391/EEC  of  12 June 1989)  imposes  a  general  obligation  on 
employers  to  protect  risk  groups  (including  disabled  people) 
against  the dangers which  specifically  affect  them  (Article 15). 

The  individual  Directive  concerning  the  minimum  safety  and  health 
requirements  for  the  workplace  (89/654/EEC  of  30 November  1989) 
sets out  the requirements  regarding adaptation of  the workplace and 
sanitary  facilities,  accessibility  of  premises  and  internal 
movement. 

The  proposal  for  an  individual  Directive  concerning  temporary  and 
mobile  work  sites  also  contains  specific  provisions  in  respect  of 
disabled  people. 

5.  Medical  research  and  health 

Medical  research  and health-related  measures must  satisfy  the wide-
ranging  needs  arising  in the  context  of  Community  policy  in favour 
of  disabled  people.  Community  instruments  adopted  in  1990  with  a 
view  to  preventing  incapacity  and  disability  have  contributed 
greatly  to  reducing  the  causes  of  incapacity  and  disability 
resulting  from  various  diseases  or  health  problems.  Additionally, 
research  has  been  undertaken  in  medicine  and  the  development  of 
medical  technologies. 

6.  Telecommunications and  telematics 

a)  COST  219:  Research  project  aimed  at  providing  solutions  to  the 
problems  arising  from  the  needs  of  disabled  persons  in  terms  of 
services 
access 
(1989-91). 

telecommunications 

te le informatics 

and 

to 

b)  RACE:  Research  and  development 
technology  in Europe  (1990-94). 

in  Advanced  Communications 

Three  projects  under  the  RACE  programme,  focusing  directly  on 
disabled  people, concern: 

marketable  aid  services  to  help  the  deaf  and  hard-of-hearing, 
the visually  handicapped, persons with  reduced mobility  and  the 
elder I y, 

a model  for adapting multi-media terminals, 
information  on  the  requirements  of  different  categories  of 
disabled  people,  with  a  view  to  introducing  suitable, 
innovative equipment. 

c)  AIM:  Advanced  Informatics  in  Medicine.  Research  and  development 
programme  in  the  field  of  telematics  applied  to  the  health  sector 
(1991-94). 

Research  work  undertaken  as part  of  the AIM  programme  contains  two 
projects of  interest  to disabled  people, concerning: 

-  16 -

systems  and  tools  designed  for  remote  functional  evaluation  of 
disabled  people  and  for  the  organisation  and  enhancement  of 
home  care, 
equipment  and  facilities  making  modern  technologies  more 
accessible  to disabled  people. 

d)  DRIVE: Dedicated  Road  Infrastructure  for Vehicle  Safety  in Europe. 

Community  research  and  development  programme  in  the  field  of  road 
transport  informatics and  telecommunications. 

The  Drive  programme  sets  out  to  improve  road  safety  through 
standardization, 
of 
informatics  technologies  in  respect  of  road  transport  (150 000 
people  a  year  become  permanently  disabled  as  a  result  of  road 
accidents  in the  Community). 

development 

evaluation 

research, 

and 

e)  DELTA:  Community  action  in  the  field  of  learning  technologies  -
development  of  European  learning  through  technological  advance 
exploratory  action. 

Covers  the  following  fields  in particular: 

vocational  training  schemes  for  disabled  people 
computer-assisted  teaching 
measures  designed  to eliminate  barriers  to  communication. 

7.  Transport 

a)  Accessibility  of  means  of  transport:  proposal  for  a  Council 
Directive  on  minimum  requirements  to  improve  the  mobility  and  the 
safe  transport  to work  of  workers with  reduced  mobility  (adopted  on 
28  February  1991). 

b)  Common  rules  for  a denied-boarding  compensation  system  in scheduled 
air  transport  (adopted  on  8  February  1991):  Article  3(4)  takes 
into  consideration  the  interests  of  passengers  who  must  be  given 
boarding  priority  for  legitimate  reasons,  such  as  disabled  persons 
and  unaccompanied  children  (to guard  against overbooking). 

c)  COST  322:  Research  into  the  development  of  a  low-floor  bus  and 

corresponding  adaptations  to bus stops. 

d)  Study  on  the  information  and  communication  requirements  of  disabled 

people  to enable  them  to use public  transport. 

e)  European  driving  licence  (Directive  of  29  July  1991):  Sets  out 
specific  provisions  to  improve  access  for  physically  disabled 
people  (particularly  those  with  a  sensory  disability,  epilepsy  or 
diabetes)  to  a  driving  licence.  More  particularly,  it  features  a 
provision  enabling  holders  of  category  B  licences  to  drive 
minibuses  or  other  vehicles  of  more  than  3.5  tonnes  "for  social 
purposes". 

f)  Proposal  for  a  Council  Directive  on  the  standards  relating  to  the 
design of  buses  and  coaches: Sets out  special  provisions  in respect 
of  accessibility,  entrance  and  exit  points,  height  of  steps,  width 
of  gangways  and  access  doors  (December  1990). 

- 17 -

8.  Reduced VAT  rates and  import  duties 

a)  Reduced  VAT  rates:  It  is planned  to  retain  zero-rating  or  reduced 
rates for a transitional  period  for  special  appliances designed  for 
disabled  people  and  for  their  rehabilitation  in Member  States where 
such  provisions currently  apply. 

b)  Import  duties:  Exemption  of  import  duties  on  goods  designed  to be 
used  by  disabled  people  in  certain  restricted  conditions 
(Regulation  918/83).  A  proposed  amendment  provides  for  one  of  the 
conditions  to  be  done  away  with,  viz.  the  requirement  regarding 
non-equivalence  to Community  products.  Duty-free  import  is  limited 
to goods  imported  free  of  charge  and  with  no  commercial  intention 
on  the part  of  the donor  (Directive  82/181/EEC). 

9.  Leisure 

a)  Creativity:  Creation  of  a  structure  for  the  coordination  of 
creative  activities  at national  and  European  levels  (concerning  the 
European  NGO  EUCREA  and  the  national  NGOs  in  each  of  the  twelve 
Member  States).  Its  task  is  to  stimulate  and  coordinate  all 
creative  activities  (e.g.  painting,  music,  theatre,  dance,  etc.) 
both  as therapeutic  elements and  as a means of  self-expression. 

b)  Sport:  Institution  (in  progress)  of  a  structure  for  coordinating 
sporting  activities  for  and  by  disabled  people,  with  a  view  to 
enhancing  the  consistency  of  activities  at  national  and  European 
levels. 

Establishment  of  a  European  data  bank  containing  details  of  ail 
organisations  involved  in  sporting  activities  for  disabled  people 
(operational  on CD by  the end of  1991). 

c)  Tourism:  Measures  for  the  creation  of  a  structure  to  coordinate 
tourist  activities  for  disabled  people  at  national  and  European 
levels. 

A  special  chapter  has  been  devoted  to  "social  tourism", 
particularly  for disabled  people,  in the Commission's communication 
on  tourism. 

10. Consumer  policy 

The  Consumers' Consultative Council  undertakes  a  regular  review of 
Commission  initiatives on  the specific needs of  disabled people. 

11. External  relations 

a)  PHARE:  Community  aid  programme  for  economic  restructuring  in 
the  countries  of  Central  and  Eastern  Europe  (Regulation 
3906/89). 

The  PHARE  programme  features  projects  for  Romanian  children 
and, more particularly, the full-scale  renovation  of  17 centres 
for disabled  children. 

-  18 -

b)  TEMPUS:  Transeuropean  mobility  programme  for  higher  education 

(1990-1994, Decision of  7.5.1990). 

In  the  context  of  the  PHARE  programme,  there  are  three  TEMPUS 
projects  open  to  disabled  people..A  project  submitted  in  1990 
concerns 
general 
consideration  has  been  given  to  the  specific  needs  of  disabled 
peop i e. 

for.  disabled 

training 

people, 

and 

12. Cooperation with  developing  countries 

Within  the  general  context  of  the  European  Community's  policy  on 
cooperation  with  the  developing  countries, one  of  the  main  aims  is 
to  promote  the  right  of  access  to  appropriate  health  care  services 
for  the  maximum  number  of  people  in  developing  countries,  with  a 
view  to promoting equality  and  social  Justice. 

A  large  number  of  Community  projects  aimed  at  the  development  of 
national  health  care  systems  in  the  developing  countries  include 
activities  in  favour  of  disabled  people,  either  in  terms  of 
prevention  or  of  physical  or  social  rehabilitation. 

(4) 

- 19 -

Annex  b: PROVISIONAL REPORT ON THE HELIOS  I ACTION  PROGRAMME 

1.  Political  initiatives 

Political  initiatives have generally  been  the  result  of  activities 
undertaken  at  all  levels,  more  particularly  at  seminars  and 
conferences  attended  by  disabled  people  and  their  representatives 
and  within  the  networks  for  the  exchange  of  information  and 
exper ience. 

To  take  an  example  from  the  education  field,  the  conclusions 
arising  from  the conference  held  in Rotterdam  (1989)  led  eventually 
to the Resolution of  31 May  1990, which  in turn generated  a greater 
effort  and pragmatic effects  from most of  the Member  States. 

In this respect, the following  texts are worthy  of mention: 

Report  on  the  employment  of  disabled  people  in  the  Community, 
following  the  Council  Recommendation  of  24  July  1986, and  the 
Conclusions of  the Council  of  12 July  1989. 

Council 
the 
18  December 
continuation of  the Handynet  system under  the HELIOS  programme. 

1989  concerning 

Decision  of 

Resolution  of  the  Council  and  the  Ministers  of  Education  of 
31 May  1990 concerning  the  integration of  disabled  children and 
young  people  into mainstream education. 

Interim  Report  of  6  December  1990  to  the  European  Parliament 
and  the  Council  on  the  implementation  of  the  HELIOS  I 
programme. 

Draft  Resolution  of  the Council  and  the Ministers  of  Education 
on  school  integration  concerning  relations  between  parents  and 
teachers. 

Proposal  for  a  Council  Directive  on  minimum  requirements  to 
improve  the mobility  and  the safe  transport  to work  of  workers 
with  reduced  mobility. 

2.  Technical  cooperation 

The  essential  aim  of  the  activities  in  this  field  is  to  promote 
innovation,  facilitate  exchanges  of  experience  and  encourage  the 
dissemination of useful  experience  by  the following means: 

a)  more  intensive  European cooperation on existing  activities of a 

model  nature  in the Member  States; 

b)  institution  of  a  computerised  information  database  (HANDYNET) 
in  the  nine  Community  languages  in  fields  affecting  the  lives 
of disabled  people. 

-  20  -

c)  European  networks 

Four  networks  have  been  set  up,  their  members  having  been 
designated  by  the Member  States' governments: 

1)  50  vocational  training  or  rehabilitation  centres  and 

exper iences, 

2)  21  local  model  activities  for  the  integration  of  disabled 

children  and  young  people  in education, 

3)  27  local  model  activities centring on  economic  integration, 

4)  32  local  model  activities  dealing  with  social  integration 
(e.g.  accessibility,  housing,  mobility  and  transport), 

making  a  total  of  130  activities  spread  over  the  12  Member 
States. 

These  four  networks  were  set  up  to  stimulate  the  exchange  of 
ideas  and  trading  of  useful  knowhow  and  experience  among  the 
Member  States.  This  is  done  largely  by  way  of  conferences, 
seminars,  study  visits and  training  schemes. 

The  conferences  bring  together  members  of  a  network  and  a 
number  of  external  parties. Their  aim  is to ensure  a  consistent 
European  approach  to  the  development  of  techniques  and  to 
promote  one  or  more  specific  aspects. 

The  seminars  are  devoted  to  specific  themes  and  bring  together 
members  of  a  network  who  have  a  particular  interest  in  that 
theme. 

The  conclusions  arising  from  such  conferences  and  seminars  are 
given  wide  circulation  so  that  each  member  concerned  can 
circulate  the  information  and  derive  benefit  from  it. 

This  information  is used  to organise: 

study  visits  to  enable  network  members  to  see  and  study  at 
first  hand  successful  schemes  with  a  view  to  obtaining  new 
ideas; 

training  schemes  to  enable  people  to  study  and  learn 
particularly  effective  methods  or  techniques. 

-  21  -

The  results  of "al I these  activities  are  difficult  to  quantify 
as  the process of  acquiring  and  refining  ideas and  concepts  is 
a gradual  one. 

Nonetheless,  it  is safe  to say  that  certain Member  States with 
a somewhat  less sophisticated social  system are keen  recipients 
of  such  information  and  derive  progressive  benefit  from  the 
experience  of  other  parties  with  a  view  to  attaining  an 
equivalent  level of development, aided more particularly  by  the 
Horizon  initiative. 

Certain  particularly  significant  activities,  arising  either 
from  such  meetings  or  entirely  spontaneously,  have  been  so 
successful  that  they merit  further  discussion. 

As  regards  the  work  of  the  VOCATIONAL  TRAINING  AND 
REHABILITATION  CENTRES AND  EXPERIENCES,  it  is worth  mentioning 
two  new  activities,  the  first  of  which  concerns  the 
rehabilitation of  people with  brain damage, where  three centres 
have been pursuing  a collaborative effort  and  have successfully 
rehabilitated a number of such people. 

The  second  concerns  the  vocational  rehabilitation  of  patients 
with mental  health  problems,  involving centres  in Rotterdam  and 
Maastricht  (Netherlands),  Thessaloniki  (Greece),  Osnabrueck 
(Germany) and  Edinburgh  (Scotland). 

Mention  should  also  be  made  of  a  number  of  centres  whose  work 
is of  a particularly  high  level: 

Pengwern Hall  (Wales) for people with mental  handicap, which  is 
devising  a  training  programme  covering  the  full  range  from 
basic  daily  activities  up  to  placement  in  a  normal  working 
environment. 

The  vocational  training  centres  in  Worms  (for  physically 
disabled  people)  and  Bad  Vilbel  (for  physically  and  mentally 
disabled  people)  in Germany, where participants can obtain  high 
qua I ificat ions. 

The  Sahva  vocational  school  in  Copenhagen  (Denmark),  which 
combines  a  flexible  training  programme  with  production  for  the 
non-sheltered market. 

Queen  Alexandra  College  for  the  blind  in  Birmingham  (United 
Kingdom),  which  has  a  full-range  training  programme  and 
services  for  those with  a visual  handicap. 

"La  Nostra  Famiglia"  in  Bosisio  Parini  (Italy)  for  children 
with  various  types of  disability, where  rehabilitation work  is 
to  a  high  level  in  close  cooperation  with  a  scientific 
institute. 

-  22 -

- 

The  vocational  centre  in Saint-Etienne  (France), which  has set 
up a business cooperation model. 

The  Cope  Foundation  for mentally  handicapped  people  (Ireland), 
which  is a good  example of  a whole  range of  services  from*very 
young children up  to the elderly. 

As  regards  LOCAL  MODEL  ACTIVITIES  IN THE  FIELD  OF  SCHOOL  INTEGRATION, 
mention should  be made of a number of specific LMAs: 

Northumberland  (United  Kingdom)  for  the  adaptation  and 
equipping of schools with a view to the  integration of  severely 
disabled  children and young people. 

Swansea  (United  Kingdom) for  the  integration of  disabled  young 
people  in secondary  and higher mainstream  education. 

Tholen  (Netherlands)  for  a  system  of  cooperation  between 
mainstream  and  special  establishments  with  a  view  to  limiting, 
recourse  to  the  special  system  and  facilitating  access  to  the 
mainstream  system. 

Valladolid  (Spain)  for  individual 
assistance of a multi-disciplinary  team. 

integration  with  the 

Siena  (Italy)  for  research  into  new  technologies,  inter 
departmental  cooperation  and  production  of  a  well  conceived 
municipal  plan. 

Hinnerup  (Denmark)  for  individual  integration  in  all  schools 
and  research  into new technologies. 

As regards LOCAL MODEL ACTIVITIES  IN THE FIELD OF ECONOMIC  INTEGRATION, 
attention  might  usefully  be  drawn  to  the  success  achieved  by  the 
fol Iow i ng LMAs: 

Genk-Hasselt  (Belgium)  for  a  special  placement  service  for 
disabled  people, which  has achieved  a high  level of success. 

Silkeborg  (Denmark)  for  an  interesting  philosophy  and  a wide-
ranging  experiment  in  vocational  training  in  the  mainstream 
system. 

-  23 -

Abensberg  (Germany)  for  a  highly  effective  follow-up  system  in 
respect  of  the employment  of mentally  handicapped  people. 

Tullamore 
effective 
involvement  in the guidance  and employment  of  disabled  people. 

its  structured 

(Ireland)  for 

and 

Rieti  (Italy)  for  the  de-institutionalisation,  socialisation 
and  training  of  mentally  ill  people  by  way  of  a  realistic 
approach  to  employment  on  the  one  hand  and  a  publishing 
cooperative  for  physically  disabled  people  on  the  other,  the 
latter  providing  training  in new technologies. 

Lisbon  (Portugal)  for  a  coherent  and  successful  approach  to 
vocational  training  for deaf  people. 

London  (United  Kingdom)  for  vocational  training  and  new 
(technology-based) approaches  to placement. 

Mureia  (Spain)  for  its  systematic  approach  to  the  integration 
of  people with mental  handicap. 

Badajoz  (Spain)  for  its management  of  a  placement  project  for 
disabled  people  in semi-sheltered  environments. 

As  regards  LOCAL  MODEL  ACTIVITIES  IN THE  FIELD  OF  SOCIAL  INTEGRATION 
AND  INDEPENDENT LIVING,  the following LMAs merit  particular  attention: 

Val  de Marne  (France),  Esch-sur-Alzette  (Luxembourg)  and  Alava 
(Spain) for  their  independent  living and  vocational  schemes for 
mentally  ill  people  who  have  spent  long  periods  in  an 
inst itut ion. 

Banff  (United  Kingdom),  Nykobing  and  Falster  (Denmark),  Vejle 
(Ireland)  for  a  regional  de-
(Denmark)  and  Waterford 
inst itut ional isat ion  plan  establishing  home  help  bases, 
vocational  training  and  leisure  activities  for  mentally 
handicapped  and mentally  ill people. 

Giugliano  (Italy)  and  Stuttgart  (Germany)  for  the  development 
of  psychiatric  social  services  away  from 
institutions, 
including  emergency  services,  vocational  training,  employment 
models and  leisure activities. 

-  24 -

Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines  (France)  for  its  social  integration 
scheme  based  on  specially  adapted  housing,  mobility,  transport 
and  access lb 111ty. 

Bordeaux  (France)  for  its  return-home  scheme,  technical  aids, 
adapted  housing  and everyday aids. 

Belluno  (Italy)  for  its  scheme  to  teach  independent  living, 
technical  aids and accessibility. 

Bologna  (Italy)  for  its  inventory  of  technical  aids  for 
physically  disabled  people  and  for  its  monitoring  of  the 
environment  of  people with  serious physical  disabilities. 

Llanelli  (United  Kingdom), London  (United  Kingdom) and Brighton 
(United Kingdom) for  a scheme  to  involve disabled  people  in the 
decision-making  process, and a door-to-door  transport  system. 

d)  HANDYNET  computerized  information database 

HANDYNET  is a multilingual  European  computerized  information  system 
designed  to cover  the following  fields: 

technical  aids  for  motor  and  visually  disabled  people, 
communication  and educational  software, 

vocational  training  and  employment, 

accessibility  and  transport, 

sport,  leisure  , tourism,  creative  activities, etc. 

In  accordance  with  the  Council  Decision  of  18  December  1989, 
priority  has been given  to activities designed  to complete  and make 
operational  the HANDYAIDS module on  technical  aids  for  persons with 
a motor, visual, hearing, mental  or  communication  handicap. 

The system  comprises  three working modes: 

1.  a data  base 
2.  electronic mai I 
3.  an electronic  Journal 

The  HANDYNET  system  is a European  prototype  and  has  been  developed 
step-by-step,  becoming  operational 
in  1990,  thanks  to  the 
collaborative effort  of specialists from all  countries. 

-  25 -

Contracts  have  been  signed  with  the  national  data  collection 
centres  and  checked  by  the  respective  governments.  They  lay  down 
the  rights  and  duties  incumbent  on  all  parties  to  the  system, 
including  the  Commission.  Contracts  were  signed  between  June  1990 
and  February  1991. 

The  collection process  started  up  progressively  with  the  signatory 
centres  following  installation  of  the  workstations  and  staff 
training  as defined at  the system configuration stage. 
As  a  result, all  Member  States  have  been  in a  position  to collect 
the requisite  information  from  the start of 1991. 

To  begin  with,  collection  was  by  way  of  the  telephone  network, 
which  proved  particularly  slow  and  costly.  Since  then,  interfaces 
have  been  introduced  to  facilitate  the  automatic  transposition  of 
data,  with  the  result  that  13 316  items  of  information  had  been 
collected by  23 September  1991. 

With  the help of  the national  collection centres  represented  on  the 
liaison  group,  simplifications  were  made  to  the  highly  complex 
collection  forms  and  improvements  were  made  to  the  system  itself. 
Improvements  to  be  made  over  coming  months  include  using  CD-ROM 
techniques,  i.e. compact  discs which  can be used  quickly  and easily 
on a decentralized basis. 

Development  work  is  still  needed  on  the  information  and  advice 
centres  designed  to  provide  information  to  disabled  people 
themselves. This  is at  the  initiative  and  under  the  responsibility 
of  the Member  States. Technological  advances will  enable  sight  and 
sound  to  be  used  in  combination  so  as  to make  data  accessible  to 
all  types of disabled  people  (e.g. voice synthesis, braille, etc.). 

3.  Cooperation with  NGOs 

The  Commission  has  already  contributed  to  funding  for  163  EC-wide 
activities organised  and  run by  the European NGOs  (EURAS). Priority 
in  HELIOS  I  was  given  to  cooperation  with  European  NGOs 
representing  particular  disability  types  or  integration  issues. 
Such  cooperation  has been  strengthened  during  the  HELIOS  Programme 
and covers  the following activities: 

ongoing  dialogue, 

advice  to  the  Commission  on  technical  matters  following 
consultation with national  organisations, 

participation  in  the  designation  of  technical  criteria  for 
political  in it iatives, 

dissemination of  information on  the HELIOS Programme, 

cooperation with other  activities  in the HELIOS Programme. 

-  26 -

Cooperation  with  the  European  NGOs  is based  on  annual  European  action 
programmes,  with  the  Commission  funding  conferences,  seminars,  study 
trips,  training  schemes  and  other  such  cooperation  activities  on  a 
European  scale.  Of  the  50  European  NGOS,  30  belong  to  the  dialogue 
group and nine  to the HELIOS  liaison group. 

A  number  of  the  subsidised  NGO  activities  have  been  of  a  particularly 
high quality; to mention  Just a few: 

Action Européenne des Handicapées  (AEH) 

A  seminar  on  the  employment  of  mentally  and  physically  handicapped 
people was  held  in Aachen  (Germany)  in November  1989, the aim  being  to 
formulate  ways  of  improving  employment  opportunities  for  disabled 
people on  the open  labour market. 

Confederation  of  family  organisations  in  the  European  Community 
(COFACE) 

/ 

In Strasbourg  in April  1991, COFACE  and  the  Association  des  Paralysés 
de  France organised  a conference  on  freedom  of movement  and  settlement 
of  disabled  people  in  the  Community,  the  aim  being  to  formulate  a 
resolution on  this central  theme. 

Euro Ii nk - Age 

In March  1990, Euro I ink Age organised  a European  seminar  in Florence on 
ageing  and  disability,  the  aim  being  to  discuss  these  two  major  areas 
and  set  up  links  at  European  level.  The  meeting  was  attended  by  all 
twelve  Member  States;  the  final  report  contained  a  European  code  of 
practice  regarding  disability  and  the  ageing  process,  and  this  was 
taken  into account  in the  policy-making  process  by  the Commission, the 
European Parliament  and  the Council  of Europe. 

International  League of Societies for Persons with  a Mental  Handicap 

The  ILSMH organised  an  annual  meeting  in June  1991, the  aims  being  to 
formulate  a  policy  on  housing  for  the  adult  mentally  handicapped 
population  in Europe, and  to discuss  the ethical  problems of  biomedical 
research. 

International  Federation  of  Disabled  Workmen  and  Civilian  Cripples 
(FIMITIC) 

FIMITIC organised  a conference on  independent  living and  assistance  for 
disabled  people  in  Denmark  in  June  1990. The  congress  ended  with  the 
unanimous  adoption  of  a  resolution  on  the  fundamental  rights  of 
disabled people. 

(5) 

-  27 -

Mobility  International 

The seminar  organised  in Milan at  the beginning of December  1990 sought 
to  compare  the  legal  situations  of  disabled  people  at  all  stages  of 
their  Iives. 

Rehabilitation  International  European  Communities  Association  (Rl  -
ECA) 

In  November  1988,  Rl  -  ECA,  together  with  the  Spanish  Ministry  of 
Social  Affairs  INSERSO,  organised  a  European  seminar  in  Spain  on  a 
comparison  of 
income,  benefits  and  services  with  a  view  to 
harmonisation  of  social  protection  provisions  in  the  Community.  The 
final  report  summarised  the  outcome  in  respect  of  benefits,  services 
and social  protection. 

European Blind Union  (EBU) 

A  conference  was  held  in Copenhagen  in December  1988 on  new  techniques 
and  new  training  for  blind  telephonists. The outcome of  the  conference 
was  the  formulation  of  an  important  political  position  on  the  part  of 
the Union: positive discrimination, training, ongoing  consultation  with 
businesses and development  of  a European  Forum  to stimulate contact  and 
the exchange of experience  and  technical  and  technological  information. 

European  Community  Regional  Secretariat  of  the World  Federation of  the 
Deaf - ECRS 

At  the education  conference  held  in Athens, the  "declaration of  the ten 
rights of deaf  children" was adopted. The declaration was  launched  at a 
HELIOS seminar  on school  integration  in Rotterdam  in 1989 and  has since 
acted  as  a  catalyst  for  subsequent  change.  A  department  for  the 
education  of  deaf  people  has  been  set  up  at  Patras  University  in 
Greece,  and  sign  language  is  being  introduced  in  Portuguese  schools. 
The  report  served  as  a  basis  for  a  number  of  subsequent  conferences 
(training  and employment, deaf  students' rights, bilingual  education). 

European  Regional  Council  of  the  World  Federation  for  Mental  Health 
(ERC-WFMH) 

The  first  European  congress  for  the families of mentally  ill people was 
organised  in  Belgium  by  the  Flemish  Mental  Health  Association  in 
conjunction with  ERC-WFMH  in June  1991. A manifesto was produced on  the 
rights of mentally  ill people and  their  families. 

Creative activities, sport  and tourism 

During  the  life  of  the  HELIOS  I programme  (1988-1991),  there  was  a 
rapid  growth  in  the  number  of  organisations  working  in  the  field  of 
sport  and creative activities  for disabled  people. 

28  -

At  the  same  time,  creativity  and  sport  are  becoming  increasingly 
important  aspects  in  fostering  the  integration  of  disabled  people 
through  the  exchange  of  ideas  and  experience  between  the Member  States. 

The  international  organisation  EUCREA,  which  is concerned  with  creative 
activities  for  and  by  disabled  people  and  was  set  up  at  the  initiative 
of  the  Commission  of  the  European  Communities,  has  its  roots  in 
national  committees  in all  the  twelve  Member  States.  EUCREA's  aim  is to 
stimulate  and  coordinate  creative  activities  at  national  and  European 
levels.  During  the  life  of  HELIOS  I, some  350  creativity  projects  were 
assessed,  127  of  which  eventually  received  financial  support  from  the 
Commission.  These  projects  cover  all  forms  of  artistic  expression  and 
all  types  of  disability.  Funds  have  been  made  available  for  the 
organisation  of  conferences,  seminars  and  exhibitions on  the  creativity 
theme  and  to  help  develop  facilities  for  disabled  people,  ranging  from 
music  and  the  theatre,  through  painting  and  literature,  to  audiovisual 
productions.  Grants  have  been  made  available  to  support  the  work  of 
disabled  artists  and  others  active  in the  creativity  field. 

As  regards  sport,  contacts  with  an  increasing  number  of  organisations 
representing  disabled  people  have  brought  out  the  need  for  a 
coordination  structure  at  both  national  and  Community  levels.  The 
Commission  is giving  its  backing  to  this  initiative  with  a  view  to  the 
rationalisation  of  sporting  events. 

During  the  period  1988-91,  some  50  projects  concerning  a  variety  of 
sporting  activities  and  various  types  of  disability  received  funding 
from  the  Commission. 

In  the  tourism  field,  the  British  Tourist  Board,  in  conjunction  with 
the  Commission,  organised  a  European  conference  in  March  1991  on 
"Tourism  for  all".  This  was  targeted  at  the  tourism  industry  and  looked 
more  particularly  into  ways  of  providing  a  more  effective  service  for 
disabled  people  and  the  social  services  and  organisations  representing 
them.  The  participants  stressed  the  fact  that  training  for  architects 
should  bear  in  mind  the  needs  of  all  tourists,  whether  able-bodied  or 
disabled.  Mention  was  also  made  of  the  need  to  arrive  at  a  situation 
where  travel  agencies  would  systematically  consult  organisations  or 
specialists  dealing  with  disabled  people. 

-  29 -

4.  Public awareness activities 

Great  importance  is attached  to  public  awareness, whereby  the  aim 
must  be  to bring  about  a change  in the mentality  and  attitude  of a 
large part of  the population.  In this respect, cooperation with  the 
media  is  becoming  more  and  more  important.  An  agreement  on 
audiovisual  coverage  of  major  events  has  been  concluded  with  a 
television  company. A HELIOS  information  stand  is present  at a wide 
variety  of  fairs  and  exhibitions  to  enable  information  to  be 
circulated  directly  to disabled  people and professionals. 

Each  year,  the Commission  organises  competitions and  awards  prizes 
in  the  field  of  independent  living  for  disabled  people  (e.g. 
accessibility,  transport  and  housing).  29 such  awards  were made  at 
the  European  conferences  in  Brussels  in  1989  and  in  Brighton  in 
1991  for  such work as: 

production of an adaptable  item of equipment  for wheelchairs  to 
enable  them  to  clear  static  or  mobile  obstacles  and  avoid 
collisions  with  pedestrians;  being  adapted  to  their  daily 
needs,  such  equipment  can  enable  severely  disabled  people  to 
move about  without  danger  to themselves or  to others  (Belgium); 

infra-red  transmitters at strategic  places  in areas used  by  the 
public  (e.g. stations  and  post  offices) providing  instructions 
or  information  for blind people  (Germany); 

adaptation  of  public  transport  (e.g.  buses  and  underground 
trains)  in  the  city  of  Bilbao  (Spain)  for  all  types  of 
disability  (e.g.  lift  platforms, ramps,  information  in braille 
and  in the spoken  word); 

in  care  and  independent 

training 
living  for  mentally 
handicapped  adolescents  in a centre providing  all  the  requisite 
equipment  and non-institutional  activities  (Italy); 

renovation  and  adaptation  of  housing  in  an  area  close  to  the 
centre  of  Edinburgh  (Scotland),  drawing  on  the  experience  of 
disabled  people  and  facilitating  independent  and  community 
living and  social  integration. 

Mention  should  also  be  made  of  work  done  at  London's  Heathrow 
Airport,  adaptation  of  a  sailing  boat  for  the  needs  of  disabled 
people,  grants  for  disabled  artists  and  accessibility  to  a  wide 
range of  European museums and art galleries. 

-  30 -

5.  Studies 

The  following  studies were  conducted  under  the HELIOS  I programme, 
providing  an  essential  basis  for  the  formulation  of  new  policies 
and more particularly  for new political  initiatives: 

copyright  for mentally  handicapped  artists 

sheltered workshops  in Europe 

disabled women 

disabled  people and new  technologies 

vocational  and  leisure  activities  for  persons with  a mental  or 
other  very  severe  handicap  and  for  those  with  multiple 
handicaps 

mobility  and  transport  for disabled  people 

the employment  situation  for disabled  people 

statistics on  the situation of disabled  people 

survey of national  rehabilitation centres 

survey  on  the  situation  of  deaf  people  in  the  European 
Commun i t y 

comparison  of  Member  States'  social  security  systems  with  a 
view  to harmonisation for disabled people. 

6.  Consultation  structures 

As  regards  the  consultation  structures  instituted  under  the  HELIOS 
programme,  the  aims  are  to  make  activities  as  transparent  as 
possible  and  to  involve  disabled  people  directly  in  the  decision 
making  process. These structures  take the form of: 

an advisory  committee comprising  two government  representatives 
per Member  States; 

a  liaison  group  comprising  government  representatives  from  the 
advisory  committee,  nine  representatives  of  European  non 
governmental 
organisât ions-, 

organisations  and  workers'  and  employers' 

-  31  -

working  parties  on  school  integration,  employment  for  disabled 
people,  mobility  and  transport,  comprising  government  experts 
to assist  the Commission  in the various  integration  fields; 

a  dialogue  group  currently  comprising  some  30  NGOs  selected  on 
the  basis  of  their  représentâtivity  in  a  particular  field  at 
European or  international  level; 

various  technical  working  groups  made  up  of  experts,  such  as 
the HANDYNET  technical  coordination  group. 

-  32 -

Proposal  for a 

COUNCIL  DECISION 

establishing  a third Community  action programme  to assist 

disabled  people  (HELIOS  II  (1992-96)) 

THE COUNCIL  OF THE  EUROPEAN  COMMUNITIES, 

Having  regard  to the Treaty establishing  the European  Economic Community,  and 

in particular  Articles  128 and  235 thereof, 

Having  regard  to  Council  Decision  63/266/EEC  of  2  April  1963  laying  down 

general  principles  for  implementing  a  common  vocational  training  policy1, 

and  in particular  the tenth  principle  thereof, 

Having  regard  to the Commission  proposal2, 

Having  regard  to the opinion of  the European  Parliament3, 

Having  regard  to the opinion of  the Economic  and Social  Committee4, 

Whereas  the  completion  of  the  single  market,  with  its  social  dimension  and 

the  changes  resulting  therefrom,  a  rapidly  developing  technical  environment 

and  the  context  of  more  complex  labour  markets  make  it  necessary  to  adopt 

suitable measures  to assist  disabled people; 

Whereas  the  Conclusions  of  the  Council  and  of  the  Ministers  of  Education 

meeting  within  the Council  of  14 May  1987 concerning  a programme  of  European 

collaboration  on  the  integration  of  handicapped  children  into  ordinary 

schools5  and  the Resolution  of  the Council  and of  the Ministers  of  Education 

meeting  within  the  Council  of  31  May  19908  affirm  the  need  to  remove 

material  barriers, to use  flexible education methods  to meet  individual  needs 

and  to  facilitate  the  transitions  to education,  to working  life and  to adult 

life,  to  establish  as  active  a  policy  of  cooperation  as  possible  with 

specialized  institutions,  to make use of  the  various  possiblities offered  by 

new  technologies  with  regard  to  education  and  to  foster  links  between  the 

family, the community,  social  and health  services and  the world of work; 

OJ  No 63, 20.4.1963, p. 1338/63. 

1 
2  OJ  No C 
OJ  No C 
3 
OJ  No C 
4 
OJ  No C 211, 8.8.1987, p. 1. 
5 
OJ  No C 162, 3.7.1990, p. 2. 
6 

-  33 -

Whereas  the  HANDYNET  system,  through  the  availability  of  the  technical  aids 

module,  assists  in  improving  conditions  for  the  integration  of  the  disabled 

and  in making  the  institutions, professions  and  associations  involved  in the 

process of  integrating  the disabled  aware of applied  research  in the field of 

technical  assistance;  whereas  the  HANDYNET  system  thus  plays  a  fundamental 

role with  regard  to the aims of  this programme; 

Whereas  the  present  programme  is  designed  to  complement  action  taken  at 

national, regional  and  local  levels,  in particular  by ensuring  an exchange of 

experience  and  information  relating  to these actions; 

Whereas, as provided  for under  item 26 of Title  I of  the Community  Charter of 

Fundamental  Social  Rights  for  Workers7,  all  disabled  persons,  whatever  the 

origin  and  nature  of  their  disablement,  must  be  entitled  to  additional 

concrete  measures  aimed  at  improving  their  social  and  professional 

integration; whereas  these measures must  concern,  in particular,  according  to 

the  capacities  of  the  beneficiaries,  vocational  training,  ergonomics, 

accessibility, mobility, means of  transport  and  housing; 

Whereas  the  Communication  from  the  Commission  concerning  its  action 

programme8  relating  to  the  implementation  of  the  Community  Charter  of  Basic 

Social  Rights  for  Workers  emphasizes  that  the  implementation  in  the  Member 

States  of  measures  to  develop  and  further  a  coherent  overall  policy  to 

promote  occupational  and  social  integration  and  an  independent  way  of  life 

for  the  disabled,  both  at  national  and  Community  level,  is  an  important 

element  of  the  social  dimension  of  the  single  market,  to  be  completed  in 

1992;  whereas  a  European  integration  policy  for  the  disabled  should  be 

pursued  and  furthered  in  order  to  provide  greater  equality  of  opportunity 

for  disabled  people, who  form  one of  the most  disadvantaged  sections  of  the 

populat ion; 

Whereas,  because  this  Decision  is concerned  on  the  one  hand  with  principles 

for  implementing  a  vocational  training  policy  and  one  promoting  employment 

and  on  the  other  with  measures,  including  those  to  promote  functional 

rehabilitation,  integration  into  schools,  social 

integration  and  an 

independent  way  of  life  for  the disabled,  which  need  to be  adopted  in order 

to  attain  one  of  the  objectives  of  the  Community,  and  the  Treaty  has  not 

provided  the  necessary  specific  powers,  it  is  necessary  to  invoke  both 

Article  128 and Article  235 of  the Treaty; 

7 
8 

C0M(89) 471  final. 
C0M(89) 568  final, pp. 53-54. 

HAS  DECIDED  AS  FOLLOWS: 

-  34  -

Article 1 

A  Community  action  programme  to  promote  educational,  occupational,  economic 

and  social  integration  and  an  independent  way  of  life  for  disabled  people 

(HELIOS  II  programme),  hereinafter  called  "HELIOS  II",  is hereby  established 

for  the  period  1 January  1992  to  31  December  1996. 

Art icle 2 

For  the  purposes  of  HELIOS  II,  "disabled  people"  means  people  with  serious 

impairments,  disabilities  or  handicaps  resulting  from  physical  (including 

sensory)  or  mental  (including  psychical)  impairments  and  restricting  or 

making  impossible  the  performance  of  an  activity  or  function  considered 

normal  for  a  human  being. 

Art icle  3 

The  objectives  of  HELIOS  II  shall  be  as  follows  in  respect  of  functional 

rehabilitation,  integration  into education,  vocational  training,  occupational 

rehabilitation,  economic  and  social  integration  and  an  independent  way  of 

life  for  disabled  people: 

a)  to  promote  the  development  of  a  comprehensive  Community  integration 

policy  based  on  the  best  innovative  and  effective  experience  and  practice 

in the Member  States; 

b)  to  identify  those  innovative  approaches  and  measures  to  be  promoted  in 

order  to  improve  the  convergence  and  coordination  of  actions  carried  out 

under  point a ); 

c)  to  continue  to  develop  exchange  and  information  activities  which  can 

make  a  useful  contribution  as  referred  to  in  a)  and  to  ensure  that  they 

are  given  as wide  a circulation  as  possible; 

d)  to 

strengthen 

cooperation 

with 

the 

Europe-wide 

non-governmental 

organizat ions. 

-  35 -

Art icle 4 

1.  The  general  measures  designed  to  attain  the  objectives  referred  to  in 

Article 3 shall  be as follows: 

a)  to coordinate, undertake  and encourage  activities based on precise  annual 

topics,  with  the  intention  of  promoting  innovation,  facilitating 

exchanges  of  experience  and  encouraging  the  dissemination  of  successful 

experiences  and  the  transfer  of  effective  practices.  These  activities 

shall  closely  involve  disabled  people,  their  families,  representative 

organizations,  experts,  researchers,  professionals  working  in  the  field, 

voluntary  helpers and  the two sides of  industry. 

b)  to meet  the  information  needs of  disabled  people  by  pursuing,  within  the 

context  of  the  computerized  information  and  documentation  system 

HANDYNET,  on  the  basis  of  national  data,  the  collection,  adaptation  at 

European  level,  updating,  exchange  and  dissemination  of  information 

gathered  in the Member  States  by  the  national  collection  and  information 

centres. 

The  HANDYNET  system  is  also  intended  to  stimulate  research  into  and 

production  of  technical  aids through establishing  an  inventory of applied 

research  undertaken  in this area. 

c)  to  promote  the  participation  of  disabled  people  in  existing  Community 

programmes,  in  particular  in  the  areas  of  training  and  preparation  for 

working  life,  new  technologies,  vocational  training  and  employment,  of 

equal  treatment  of  women,  the  learning  of  languages, and  mobility  of  and 

exchanges by young  people within  the Community; 

d)  to  ensure  close  coordination  with  activities  undertaken  by  inter 

governmental  organizations,  and  cooperation  with  other  activities  at 

international  level  in the areas referred  to  in Article  3. 

2.  The  specific  measures  designed  to  attain  the  objectives  set  out  in 

Article  3 are  listed  in the Annex. 

-  36  -

Art icle 5 

The  Commission  shall  ensure  the  implementation  of  HELIOS  II. 

Article  6 

1.  The  Commission  shall  be  assisted  by  a  Committee  of  an  advisory  nature, 

hereinafter 

called 

the 

"Committee", 

composed 

of 

two 

government 

representatives  from  each  Member  State  and  chaired  by  the  representative  of 

the  Commission. 

2.  The  opinion  of  the  Committee  shall  be  requested: 

for  the  constitution  and  for  the  definition  of  the  selection  criteria  of 

the  Innovative  Local  Integration  and  Exchange  Activities  (A.I.L.E.); 

for  the  establishment  of  the  list  of  annual  themes  to  be  dealt  with  in 

the  course  of  conferences,  seminars  and  study  visits  organized  within  the 

framework  of  these  networks; 

on  any  measure  of  a  general  or  specific  nature  to  be  undertaken  within 

the  framework  of  the  application  of  Article  4. 

3.  The  representative  of  the  Commission  shall  submit  to  the  Committee  a 

draft  of  the  measures  to  be  taken.  The  Committee  shall  deliver  its  opinion 

on  the  draft,  within  a  time  limit  which  the  chairman  may  lay  down  according 

to  the urgency  of  the matter,  if necessary  by  taking  a vote. 

The  opinion  shall  be  recorded  in  the  minutes;  in  addition,  each  Member 

State  shall  have  the  right  to  ask  to  have  its  position  recorded  in  the 

minutes. 

The  Commission  shall  take  the  utmost  account  of  the  opinion  delivered  by 

the  Committee.  It  shall  inform  the  Committee  of  the  manner  in  which  its 

opinion  has  been  taken  into  account. 

-  37 -

Article  7 

1.  Before  31  December  1994  the  Commission  shall  submit  an  interim  summary 

report  to  the  European  Parliament,  the  Council  and  the  Economic  and  Social 

Committee  on  the  implementation  of  HELIOS  II. 

2.  Before  1  July  1997  the  Commission  shall  submit  a  full  report  to  the 

European  Parliament,  the Council  and  the  Economic  and  Social  Committee  on  the 

implementation  and  results of  HELIOS  II. 

Done  at  Brussels, 

For  the  Council 

The  President 

-  38 -

ANNEX 

SPECIFIC MEASURES TO ATTAIN THE OBJECTIVES 
REFERRED TO  IN ARTICLE  3 OF THE DECISION 

1.  GENERAL  REMARKS 

These  specific  measures  will  be  undertaken  by  the  Commission  in 
consultation  with  the  Member  States,  associations  of  disabled 
people  and  of  their  families,  the  two  sides  of  industry  and 
professional  and  voluntary  bodies  involved  in  the  integration  of 
disabled  people. 

The  conditions  and  procedures  for  participation  by  network 
partners,  the  HANDYNET  system  and  European  non-governmental 
organisations are set out  below. 

Special  attention  will  be given  to  the  role of  new  technologies  in 
the  integration  of  disabled  people.  The  pedagogical  and  practical 
potential  of  new  technologies  can  be  a  useful  tool  in  the 
development  of  teaching  aids,  the  adaptation  of  workplaces,  means 
of  communication  and mobility  and  as a way  of  ending  the  isolation 
of  disabled  people. 

2.  COMMUNITY  NETWORKS  FOR  INNOVATIVE  LOCAL  INTEGRATION  AND  EXCHANGE 

ACTIVITIES  (A.I.L.E.)* 

2.1  General  conditions  and procedures  for  participation by  the A.I.L.E. 

2.1.1.  The members  of each  network must  in each Member  State  represent 
innovative  institutions  of  high  standing  and  with  a  high 
technical  level,  recognised  in  the  integration  sector  and 
giving  evidence of  interest  and experience  in this  field. 

The  A.I.L.E. will  be  designated  as members  of  a network  by  the 
Commission  on  the basis of proposals  from  the Member  States and 
may  be  replaced. 

Those A.I.L.E. which  are candidates  for membership  of  a network 
must  undertake  to  attain  clearly  defined  objectives  linked  to 
specific and  innovative topics. 

The  acronym  A.I.L.E.  (with  the  phonetic  pronounciation  "  L") 
remains  unchanged  in all  Community  languages  and  is  both  singular 
and  plural. 

-  39  -

Each  A.I.L.E.  will  draw  up  an  annual  programme  of  activities 
with  a  Community  dimension,  together  with  a  provisional 
timetable.  Each  A.I.L.E.  will  undertake  to  cooperate  at 
Community  level  and  to supply  information  obtained  to  the  other 
network  partners  and  to partners  in the external  network. 

A  network's  activity  programme  will  consist  of  study  visits, 
training  courses,  seminars,  conferences  and  other  European-
scale  cooperative  activities  and  will  be  established  on  the 
basis of  annual  topics. 

Positive  actions,  studies  and  cooperation  with  European  non 
governmental  organisations  (EURAS)  and  Member  States  will  be 
carried  out  in  cooperation  with  the  activities  of  each 
Community  network. 

parties 

given 
Working 
responsibility  for  implementing  various  topics  relating  to  the 
integration  process,  may  be  set  up.  An  assessment  group  will 
be  set  up. 

A.I.L.E.,  and 

grouping 

together 

representatives  of 

The  A.I.L.E. will  be  called  upon  to  cooperate  closely  with  the 
local,  regional  or  national 
relevant 
authorities, 
and 
organisations  and  associations  representing  disabled  people, 
their  families  and  professional  and  voluntary  helpers. 

non-governmental 

organisations 

European 

2.1.2.  Rate  of  Community  financial  contribution:  up  to  50%  for 
conferences  (in  cooperation  with  national  authorities)  and  up 
to  100%  for  seminars,  working  party  activities,  study  visits, 
training  courses  and  publication  of  a magazine. 

2.2  Specific  activities 

2.2.1.  Community  network  for  INNOVATIVE  LOCAL  INTEGRATION  AND  EXCHANGE 
ACTIVITIES  in  the  field  of  functional  rehabilitation  (A.I.L.E. 
I) 

Creation  of  a  network  of  INNOVATIVE  LOCAL  INTEGRATION  AND 
EXCHANGE  ACTIVITIES  consisting  of  medical 
rehabilitation 
centres  (A.I.L.E.  I)  set  up  on  the  basis  of  clearly  defined 
criteria.  The  task  of  this  network  will  be  to  facilitate 
exchanges  of  information  and  experience  with  regard  to  the 
principles  and  criteria  for  complete  and  coherent  functional 
rehabilitation  (early  timing,  completeness,  continuity  and 
multi-disciplinary  nature  of  individual  operations). 

The  A.I.L.E.  will  be  represented  at  network  meetings  by 
time  professionals  in the  field  of  rehabilitation. 

ill-

-  40  -

2.2.2.  Community  network  of  INNOVATIVE  LOCAL  INTEGRATION  AND  EXCHANGE 

ACTIVITIES  in the  field of  education  (A.I.L.E. II). 

Creation  of  a  network  of  INNOVATIVE  LOCAL  INTEGRATION  AND 
EXCHANGE  ACTIVITIES  in  the  field  of  education  (A.I.L.E.  II) 
based  on  specific  criteria  which  are  to  be  drawn  up.  The  task 
of  this  network  will  be  to  facilitate  exchanges  of  information 
and  experience  in  nursery,  primary,  secondary,  university  and 
para-university  education  and  in continuing  training. 

This  network  will  pursue,  on  the  basis  of  annual  programmes, 
the  implementation  of  the  European  cooperation  programme  for 
the  integration  of  handicapped  children  into  ordinary  schools 
(87/C22/01)  and  of  the  Resolution  (90/C162/02)  concerning  the 
implementation  of  the  integration  of  children  and  young  people 
with  disabilities  into ordinary  systems of  education. 

2.2.3.  Community  network  of  INNOVATIVE  LOCAL  INTEGRATION  AND  EXCHANGE 
ACTIVITIES  in  the  field  of  vocational  training  and  employment 
(A.I.L.E.  Ill) 

Amalgamation  of  the  network  of  vocational 
training  and 
rehabilitation  centres  and  of  the  network  of  Local  Model 
Activities  in  the  field  of  economic  integration  (LMA  II)  from 
the  first  HELIOS  programme  in  a  new  network  comprising 
INNOVATIVE  LOCAL  INTEGRATION  AND  EXCHANGE  ACTIVITIES  in  the 
field  of  vocational  training  and  employment  (A.I.L.E.  Ill),  on 
the  basis  of  clearly  defined  criteria.  The  task  of  this 
network  will  be  to  facilitate  exchanges  of  information  and 
experience  with  regard  to the principles  and  criteria  governing 
vocational  training  and  employment,  particularly  with  regard  to 
topics  such  as  guidance  and  assessment,  training  innovations, 
employment,  sheltered  employment  (in  particular  sheltered 
in  an  ordinary 
workshops),  the  transition  to  ^employment 
environment,  the  adaptation  of  workplaces  and  evaluation  of 
employment  capability. 

continue  to 

Recommendation 
This  network  will 
86/379/EEC  and  Conclusion  89/0173/01  on  the  employment  of 
disabled  people  in  the  Community  and  will  contribute  to  the 
application  of  the  Community  Charter  of  Fundamental  Social 
Rights of  Workers. 

implement 

The  Commission  will  promote  a  "European  code  of  good  practice" 
on  integration  into  the  labour  market,  drawn  up  in  cooperation 
with  the Member  States. 

-  41  -

2.2.4.  Community  network  of  INNOVATIVE  LOCAL  INTEGRATION  AND  EXCHANGE 

ACTIVITIES  in the  social  field  (A.I.L.E.  IV) 

Transformation  of  the  network  of  Local  Model  Activities  in  the 
field  of  social  integration  (LMA  III)  from  the  first  HELIOS 
programme  into  the  network  of  INNOVATIVE  LOCAL  INTEGRATION  AND 
EXCHANGE  ACTIVITIES  in  the  social  field  (A.I.L.E.  IV), on  the 
basis  of  clearly  defined  criteria.  The  task  of  this  network 
will  be  to  facilitate  exchanges  of  information  and  experience 
and  to encourage  as  independent  a way of  life as possible  and  a 
full  social  life,  with  particular  regard  to  the  rights  of 
disabled  people,  their  participation  in normal  life,  access  to 
accommodation,  public  buildings  and  transport  and  the  removal 
of  architectural 
those 
hindering  communication. 

and  psychological 

obstacles  and 

public 

buildings 

Exchanges  of  experience  in  the  following  fields:  accessibility 
of 
leisure 
(including 
facilities),  adaptation  of  private  accommodation  (including 
equipment  and  home  help  to permit  an  independent  way  of  life  in 
one's  own  accommodation)  and  provision  of  facilities  to  assist 
the mobility  and  transport  of  disabled  people. 

cultural 

and 

3.  COMPUTERIZED  INFORMATION  AND  DOCUMENTATION  SYSTEM  (HANDYNET) 

3.1  General  conditions  and  procedures  for  participation  by  national 
collection  and  coordination  centres  and  by  national  information  and 
advice  centres. 

National  collection  and  coordination  centres  will  have  as  their 
task  the  transmission  to  a  central  point  of  data  collected  at 
national  level  concerning  the  various  fields  of  integration  and, 
depending  on  the  circumstances,  commercial  or  non-commercial 
organisations  having  a  link  with  technical  aids  and  concerning  the 
regulations  in force  in respective Member  States. 

The  task  of  the  national  information  and  advice  centres  will  be  to 
inform  and  advise  both  disabled  people  and  their  professional 
helpers  about  the  social  and  economic  integration  process  on  the 
basis of  data  made  available  at  Community  level. 

3.2  Specific  activities 

Continued  development  of  the  technical  aids  module,  collection  of 
information  relating  to  products  and  to  commercial  and  non 
commercial  organisations  associated  with  these  products  and  an 
inventory  of  regulations  concerning  these  products. 

-  42  -

Extension  of  the  HANDYNET  system  through  the  creation  of  new 
modules  dealing  with  employment  and  training,  sport,  creativity, 
tourism  and  other  leisure  activities,  a  research  bibliography, 
documentation,  a multilingual  thesaurus  and  statistics. 

Carrying  out  positive  and  forward-looking  activities  to  encourage 
the  adaptation  of  new  technologies  to  the  needs  of  disabled  people, 
and  to encourage  research. 

Rate  of  Community  financial  contribution:  up  to  100%  (to  cover  the 
European  dimension  of  the  system). 

4.  COOPERATION  WITH  NON-GOVERNMENTAL  ORGANISATIONS 

4.1. 

General  conditions  and  procedures  for  cooperation  with  the 
Commission. 

4.1.1.  The  Commission  will  strengthen  its  cooperation  with  the  non 
governmental  organisations  (NGOs),  primarily  with  those  which 
are  representative  at  European  level. 

4.1.2 

The  European  NGOs  (EURAS)*  will  participate  at  various  levels 
on  the  basis  of  respect  for  the  criteria  of  representativeness 
within  the  Community,  as  follows: 

at  the  first  level,  the  EURAS  will  be  represented  in  the 
twelve  Member  States,  have  some  competence  in  dealing  with 
each  type  of  disability  or  be  specialized  in  dealing  with 
the main  problems  of  integrating  disabled  people; 

at  the  second  level,  the  EURAS  will  represent  a  specific 
disability  or  integration  issue  in  more  than  one  Member 
State.  They  will  be  invited  to  Join  forces  and  be 
represented  at  Liaison  Group  level  by  an  NGO  representing 
their  type  of  disability  or  their  integration  issue. 

The  Commission  will  invite  the  EURAS  taking  part  in  the 
programme  within  the  Liaison  and/or  Dialogue  Groups  to 
establish  a  National  Committee  in  each  Member  State, 
grouping 
associations 
representing  a  type of  disability  or  an  integration  issue. 

the  various 

national 

together 

The  acronym  EURAS  remains  the  same  in  all  Community  languages  and 
is both  singular  and  plural. 

4.2  Specific  activities 

-  43  -

To  draw  up,  each  year,  a  programme  of  activities  eligible  for 
financial  support  from  the  Commission  and  to  give  a  balanced 
opinion  on  the  priority  rating  of  these  activities. 

and 

early 

functional 

assistance, 

To  organise  Innovative  Rehabilitation  Activities  (A.I.R.)*  in  all 
fields  concerned  with  the  integration  of  disabled  people,  such  as 
rehabilitation, 
prevention 
integration  into  schools  and  training,  vocational  rehabilitation, 
vocational  training  and  employment,  new  technologies,  independent 
living,  access  to  cultural  activities,  creativity,  sports,  leisure 
and  tourism,  the  families  of  disabled  people,  the  elderly  disabled 
and  social,  economic  and  legal  protection.  These  Innovative 
Rehabilitation  Activities  (A.I.R.)  will  be  carried  out  by  means  of 
conferences,  seminars,  study  visits,  training  courses  and  other 
European-1 eve I  cooperative  activities  on  the  basis  of  annual 
topics. 

To  provide  information  for  national  associations  in  the  Member 
States  and  other  European  NGOs  in  their  respective  sector  of 
activity on  actions  undertaken  at  Community  level. 

To  advise  the  Commission,  at  its  request,  on  the  technical  aspects 
associated  with  the  type  of  disability  or  the  specific  integration 
issue  being  dealt  with. 

To  submit  an  annual  report  on  activities  carried  out  which  have  a 
European  dimension. 

The  Commission  will  contribute  to  the  expenses  arising  from  the 
provision  of  coordination  and  expertise  for  first-level  European 
non-governmental  organisations  (EURAS). 

Rate  of  Community  financial  contribution: up  to 50% for  meetings of 
the  National  Committees  of  the  EURAS,  conferences,  seminars,  study 
visits,  training  courses  and  other  European-1 eve I  cooperative 
activities,  and  up  to  100%  for  expenses  arising  from  the  provision 
of  coordination  and  expertise  for  first-level  non-governmental 
organisations  (EURAS). 

The  acronym  A.I.R.  (with  the  phonetic  pronounciation  " R")  remains 
unchanged  in  all  Community  languages  and  is  both  singular  and 
plural. 

-  44  -

5.  INFORMATION  AND  AWARENESS-RAISING  CAMPAIGNS  AIMED  AT  PUBLIC OPINION 

Wide  circulation  of  information  to  publicise  activities  and 
campaigns  to  make  public  opinion  and  the  media  aware  of  the 
problems  of  integrating  disabled  people. 

The  Commission  will  contribute  to  raising  the  awareness  of  public 
opinion  through  the  organisation  of  competitions,  the  presentation 
of  annual  prizes  for  pilot  projects  in  the  various  fields  relating 
to  the 
integration  of  disabled  people,  and  through  media 
act ivitles. 

The  pilot  projects  rewarded  with  a  prize  will  be  presented  at  a 
conference/exhibit ion. 

The  Commission  will  lend  its  support  to  the  annual  organisation  at 
national  level  of  information  meetings  for  all  participants  in 
HELIOS  II. 

Rate of  Community  financial  contribution: up  to 100%. 

6.  SPECIAL  TRAINING  MEASURES 

The  Commission  will  organise  training  schemes  in  the  Community  for 
national  and  Community  civil  servants  and  for  representatives  of 
the networks  and  of  organisations  representing  disabled  people. 

7.  SPECIAL  THEMES 

In  implementing 
participants  in HELIOS  II will  devote  special  attention  to: 

the  specific  measures  detailed  above,  the 

prevention  and  early  assistance,  with  a  view  to  preventing  the 
appearance  or  development  of  an  impairment,  incapacity  or 
disabiIity, 

difficulties  encountered  by  the  families  of  disabled  people, 
disabled  women  and  elderly  disabled  people, 

the economic  and  social  integration  of  disabled  women, 

training  for  professionals  and  volunteers  involved  at  the 
various  stages of  the  integration  process, 

persons  with  special  responsibilities  in  respect  of  disabled 
children,  adolescents  and  adults. 

-  45  -

8.  PROGRAMMES,  ACTIVITIES  AND  INITIATIVES  CONCERNED  DIRECTLY  WITH 

DISABLED  PEOPLE 

Special  steps  will  be  taken  to  create  a  synergetic  effect  in  the 
field  of  vocational  rehabilitation  and  employment  with  the  HORIZON 
initiative  and,  in  respect  of  new  technologies,  with  the  TIDE 
initiative. 

9.  STUDIES AND  TECHNICAL  ASSISTANCE 

Studies, consultancy  services  and  technical  assistance  required  for 
the  drawing  up  of  proposals  or  for  providing  technical  support  in 
the  fields  referred  to  in Article  3. 

Rate of  Community  financial  contribution: up  to 100%. 

10. ADDITIONAL  SPECIFIC  ACTION  WITHIN  THE  FRAMEWORK  OF  THE  ACTIVITIES 

REFERRED  TO  IN  ITEMS  2 -5 

Cooperation  with  outside  experts  responsible  for  assisting  the 
Commission  in  coordinating,  guiding  and  evaluating  the  activities 
referred  to  in  items  2 - 5. 

Rate of  Community  financial  contribution: up  to 100%. 

-  46 -

HELIOS II PROGRAMME  (1992-1996) 

FINANCIAL  STATEMENT 
PART  1: FINANCIAL  IMPLICATIONS 

1.  Title of the operation 

Community  action  for disabled people - HELIOS II programme 

2.  Budget  headings  concerned 
B3-4102  B8-3502  B3-1000 

3.  Legal basis 

The third  action programme known as HELIOS  II  (1992-1996) sets out to 
develop a comprehensive  and consistent policy at Community  level in 
favour of the disabled, building on the experience gained  under the 
previous programme  (cf. Council Decision  231/88/EEC). 

4.  Description 

Organisation  of  four innovative Local  Integration and Exchange 
Activities networks  (AILE) in conjunction with the Member States, 
covering  functional rehabilitation, school and  university 
integration, employment  and vocational training, and the promotion of 
independent  living. 
Subsidies  for external activities  involving  non-governmental 
organisations  in cooperation, coordination  and consultancy  exercises 
at European level. 
Operational  development of the HANDYNET computerised  information 
system, covering the "technical  aids" module and extending  the scope 
to other modules  (research bibliography,  employment-training, 
creativity,  sports and tourism); European dimension of the  system. 
Organisation of special training measures  in the Community  for 
national  and Community  civil  servants and  for representatives  of the 
networks and of the non-governmental organisations. 
Public  awareness-raising  work by way of a programme of annual  awards 
for model projects  in a variety of fields and  specific  activities  in 
conjunction with the audio-visual media. Increased dissemination of 
information. 
Studies and other technical  assistance measures, particularly with a 
view to preparing, monitoring  and evaluating political  initiatives. 
Coordination, organisation  and evaluation of the above activities by 
outside experts. 

- 

- 

- 

- 47 -

5.  Classification of expenditure or revenue 

5.1  NCE 

5.2  DA  for B3-4102 

NDA  for B8-3502  B3-1000 

5.3  Types of revenue: none 

6.  Nature of expenditure or revenue 

- 

- 

- 
- 
- 

100% expenditure  (for activities connected with contracts  for the 
provision of  services). 
Subsidies  for joint  financing with other public  and/or private  sector 
sources. 
Study  and consultancy contracts. 
Seminar, documentation, publication and secretariat expenditure. 
Travelling  and  subsistence expenditure and  salaries  for  special 
training measures. 

7.  Financial  impact  on intervention appropriations  (Part B of the budget) 

7.1  Indicate the way  in which the total cost has been  calculated 

(cf. Annexes  1-2) 

(1992-1996): 47.3 MECU 
46.3 MECU  : B3-4102  B8-3502  (mini-budget) 

1 MECU  : B3-1000 

Total  cost  in 1992  : 8.55  MECU 
6.707 MECU  : B3-4102 
1.693  MECU  : B8-3502  (mini-budget) 
0.150  MECU  : B3-1000 

a)  Innovative  local  integration and exchange activities  (AILE) networks in 

conjunction with the Member  States 

2.1  MECU 

b)  Public opinion  awareness-raising 

0.5  MECU 

c)  HANDYNET  system 

1.9  MECU 

d)  Cooperation with non-governmental  organisations 

3.15  MECU 

e)  Training measures 
0.3  MECU 

f)  Studies and technical  assistance 

0.6  MECU 

- 48 -

An increase of + 8% is earmarked  for 1992 and an annual  increase of  5% for 
the period  1993-1996  for budget heading B3-4102  (and of 0.015  MECU  for 1992 
and 0.025 MECU per year  for the period  1993-1996  for  B3-1000). 

1)  The highest percentage  increase  is for  1992, which  is the  lead year for 

the implementation of the new programme. 

More particularly,  it is planned to implement gradually the activities of 
the  four AILE networks and of the HANDYNET  system. Financial  aid  for 
cooperation with the NGOs will be slightly  reduced over  1991  (leaving out 
subsidies  in 1991 for the new German Lander) so as not to create too wide 
a gap between aid applications and the inadequate budget resources. The 
budget  available  for dissemination of  information  at national  level will 
be greatly  increased, as will the money  for new special  training 
measures. 

Total  increase  for 1992: 0.515  MECU  (+8%) 
Increase by activity sectors: 

I. AILE  networks 

Rate of  inflation 
Gradual  implementation 
of activities 

+ 

82 000 ECU 

+ 4% 

- 

32 000 ECU 

-  1.6% 

TOTAL: 

+ 

50 000 ECU 

+ 2 . 4% 

II. HANDYNET: 

Rate of  inflation 
Multilingual thesaurus, 
documentation,  implementation 

+ 

74 000 ECU 

+ 4% 

- 

24 000 ECU 

- 1.3% 

TOTAL: 

+ 

50 000 ECU 

+ 2.7 % 

III. Cooperation with the EURAS  (AIR) 

Rate of  inflation: 
Lower  level of cooperation on 
the basis of annual  themes 
(taking account of the new 
Lander  in 1992) 

+  140 800 ECU 

+ 4% 

-  510 800 ECU 

-14.5% 

TOTAL: 

-  370 000 ECU 

-10.5% 

- 49 -

IV. Public awareness  activities 

and dissemination of  information 

Rate of  inflation: 

Dissemination of  information: 

J 
+ 
15 200 ECU 
+  104 800 ECU 

+ 4% 
+28% 

+  120 000 ECU 

+32% 

TOTAL: 

V.  Special training measures 

Training  measures 
Preparation  and 
evaluation  conferences 

+  200 000 ECU 

+  100 000 ECU 

TOTAL : 

+  300 000 ECU 

VI. Other  activities 

+  365 000 ECU 

+55.3% 

TOTAL: 

+  515 000 ECU 

+ 8% 

2)  Between  1993 and  1996, the annual increase  (reduced  in percentage terms 
to 5%) will enable the HANDYNET system to be extended  to  include the 
employment  and training, sport, creativity  and tourism modules and to 
take  in a research bibliography.  It will also make  it possible to set up 
and extend  external  information networks with the AILEs and the  funding 
of projects run  in cooperation with the NGOs.  Finally, special  attention 
will be devoted  to evaluation exercises concerning  specific  objectives 
and performance  indicators. 

Total  increase  : + 5 %  (average percentage  increase per year) 

7.2  Indicate the proportion of the  "mini-budget"  in the total cost.  Give 

details of how the calculation was made. 

personnel 
publications/information 
infrastructure: 
direct 
share 
other 

1 456 000 ECU 

40 000 ECU 
157 000 ECU 
40 000 ECU 

What  anti-fraud provisions are included  in the proposal? 
Account  and  invoice audit. 

- 50  -

PART 2 : ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENDITURE 

1.  Staff needed to carry out the programme: 

DG V 

Present 

3 A 
2 B 
2 C 
1 national expert on secondment 

Additional staff requested 
1 A 
IB 
1 C 

These additional posts will have to come from resource programming for the 
year in question or by internal redeployment. 

2.  Administrative appropriations required 

p.m. 

-  meetings of the HELIOS Advisory Committee for the social and 

economic integration of handicapped persons, HELIOS 
tripartite Liaison Group 
(A 2510) 
meetings of the HELIOS working parties on school integration, 
employment, mobility and transport, HANDYNET-HELIOS technical 
coordination, evaluation and the HELIOS dialogue group. 
(A 2500) 

- 51 -

PART 3  : COST-EFFECTIVENESS  ANALYSIS 

1.  Aims and consistency with the financial planning 

The HELIOS  II action programme covers a period of  five years  (1992-1996). 
The total amount of 47.3 MECU, including 46.3 MECU on B3-4102 and B8-
3502, accords with the financial planning  for the period. 

2.  Justification of the measure 

The 30 million disabled people  (making up 10% of the population) 
constitute one of the most disadvantaged  population groups  in the 
Community. Within the economic context, and with the work  situation 
becoming more and more competitive with the advent of the Single Market, 
not to mention the pace of technical change, the Community  needs to take 
more and  lasting measures to help the disabled. 

3.  Monitoring  and evaluation  arrangements 

The Advisory  Committee and the HELIOS Liaison Group, comprising 
representatives  of the Member  State governments, the  non-governmental 
organisations  and the two sides of industry, meet  in principle three 
times a year to monitor and evaluate the progress of the HELIOS II 
programme. An evaluation working party will be set up in agreement with 
the Liaison Group. An evaluation report will be drawn up by an external 
organisation  on completion of the HELIOS  II programme. 

4.  Public  awareness-raising  work with a programme of annual  awards for model 
projects  in a variety of fields and specific  activities  in conjunction 
with the audio-visual media. Dissemination of  information  at national 
level. 

5.  Organisation of special training measures  in the Community  for national 

and Community  civil  servants and  for representatives  of the non 
governmental organisations  and the networks. 

1.  Timetable 

1)  1992 will be the pivotal year  for HELIOS  II. Implementation of the AILE 
network activities on the basis of annual themes, extension of the 
HANDYNET  system and  intensified  cooperation with the NGOs on the basis of 
priority  annual themes will start  in earnest  at the beginning of 1993. 
From  1992 on, special training measures will be organised  for civil 
servants and representatives of the networks and of the NGOs. 

2)  Period  1993-1996: 

AILE network: the number of conferences and seminars will be increased by 
from  1993. The number of study trips and training courses will  also 
increase. External  networks will be set up from the beginning of 1993. 

- 52 -

Extension of the HANDYNET  system 
Creation of the employment/training module: beginning of  1993 
Creation of the sport  (beginning of  1992),  creativity  and tourism 
module: beginning  of  1993 
Creation of the research bibliography: beginning of  1994 
Creation of the multilingual  thesaurus: beginning  of  1992 
Statistics: from the beginning of  1993 

Cooperation with the NGOs on the basis of annual themes. 
Development of the procedure  for granting  subsidies on the basis of 
priority  annual themes: from 1993. 

Justification: 

There are something  like 30 million handicapped  people  in the Community, 
representing  10% of the population and constituting  one of the most 
disadvantaged  population groups. Within the economic  context, and with 
the work situation becoming more and more competitive with the advent of 
the Single Market, not to mention the pace of technical  change, the 
Community  needs to take more and  lasting measures to help the disabled. 

The performance  indicators are as follows: 

- 

The AILE networks: 
The activities of the four AILE networks concern the exchange of 
information and experience between model projects of an  innovative 
nature and are organised  on the basis of priority  annual themes. The 
specific objective  is for each AILE to take an active part during the 
programme  in preparing  study trips, training  courses, seminars and 
the annual conference on a priority  annual theme, and  for all the 
AILEs to take part each year  in at least one annual  conference. It is 
also planned to invite at least each external  network partner to an 
AILE network activity during the programme. 

HANDYNET: 
The specific objective  is to enable each disabled person or his or 
her organisation  in the Community to have access during the programme 
to the HANDYNET  system to obtain  information  free of charge  in one of 
the official  languages on all types of technical  aids available on 
the European market. 

The plan  is also to set up an operational data base accessible to 
handicapped  people on employment  and training, sport, creativity  and 
tourism and a research  bibliography. 

53 -

-  Cooperation with the NGOs: It was thought appropriate to increase the 

budget for cooperation with the European NGOs in view of the 
substantial rise in the number of activities and initiatives of an 
innovative nature at Community level in the various HELIOS programme 
priority fields. The specific objective is to promote, on the basis 
of AIR annual themes, external cooperation activities in each major 
handicap type or integration problem sector. 

-  Special training measures: The specific objective is for  civil 

servants and representatives of the EURAS and of the networks to be 
enabled to take part each year in a special training measure, i.e. a 
4-6 week experience placement in a different Member State. 

3.  Monitoring and evaluation arrangements 

The Advisory Committee and the HELIOS Liaison Group, comprising 
representatives of the Member State governments, the non-governmental 
organisations and the two sides of industry, meet in principle three 
times a year to monitor and evaluate the progress of the HELIOS II 
programme. Moreover, a dialogue group comprising representatives of the 
non-gouvernemental organisations meet in principle twice a year.  An 
evaluation working party will be set up, and an evaluation report will be 
produced by an external organisation on completion of the HELIOS II 
programme. 

The evaluation working party will be asked to take an annual look at the 
progress made on the specific objectives and at the performance 
indicators as mentioned under point 2 "Justification". 

Likely  schedule  of  poyments  os  compored  with  commitments: 

Annex 1 

B3-4102 

APPROPRIATIONS 

1.  Comnitments  contracted 

p r i or  to  1991  for  payment 
from  new  payment  appropriations 

2.  Committment  appropriations 

deferred")  from  1990 

3.  1991  appropriations 

4.  1992  appropriations 

TOTAL 

5.  1993  appropriations 

6.  1994  appropriations 

7.  1995  appropriations 

8.  1996  appropriations 

6.207 

6.695 

7.059 

7.407 

7.777 

8.175 

PAYMENTS 

1993 

0.2 

0.3 

1.0 

7.8 

6.3 

1991 

2 .5 

3.507 

1992 

0.563 

2.4 

5.5 

6.007 

8.463 

-

-

-

(1) 

Or reconstituted, for payment from new payment appropriations 

B8-3502 

B3-1000 

TOTAL 
B3-4102 
B8-3502 
B3-1000 

CA 
PA 
CA 
PA 

Commitment appropriations 

Payment appropriations 

1.693 
1.693 
0.135 
0.135 

8.035 

7.835 

1.837 
1.837 
0.150 
0.150 

8.682 

10.45 

1.9 
1.9 
0.175 
0.175 

9.134 

9.875 

1994 

1995 

1996 

0.137 

0.163 

6.9 

0.6 

6.0 

2 
2 
0.2 
0.2 

9.607 

9.1 

4> 

7.359 

0.159 

1.0 

6.2 

2.1 
2.1 
0.225 
0.225 

10.102 

9.684 

7.907 

0.407 

1.0 

6.5 

2.2 
2.2 
0.25 
0.25 

10.625 

10.357 

PROGRESSION  OF  THE  HELIOS  II  PROGRAMME  ANO  OF  THE  HANOYNET  SYSTEM,  1992-1996 

(for  InformotIon) 

1991 

1992 

1993 

1994 

1993 

1996 

TOTAL 
1992-1996 

ANNEX  2 

I - 

Local  Integration  and 
exchange 
activities  network» 
(A.I.L.E) 

2  0S0  000 

2  100  000 

2  213  000 

2  331  000 

2  434  000 

2  584  000 

11  682  000 

II  -  P u b l ic  o p i n i on  a w a r t n u t- 

3 80  0 00 

532  000 

559  000 

587  000 

616  COO 

648  000 

2  942  000 

r a i t i ng 

III  -  HANOYNET  system 

1 850  000 

1  900  000 

1  995  000 

2  095  000 

2  200  000 

2  310  000 

10  500  000 

IV  -  C o o p é r a t i on  w i th  the  N G Oe 

3  5 20  0 00 

3  150  000 

3  317  000 

3  491  000 

3  674  000 

3  866  000 

17  498  000 

on  i n n o v a t i ve  r e h o b i I i at  Ion 

a c t i o n*  ( A . I . R) 

V  - 

S p e c i al  t r a i n i ng  m e a s u r e* 

400  000 

420  000 

441  000 

463  000 

488  000 

2  2 12  000 

VI  -  Studies  and  technical 

235  000 

600  000 

630  000 

662  000 

695  000 

729  000 

3  316  000 

ass I stance 

of  which 

8  035  000 

8  682  000 

9  134  000 

9  607  000 

10  102  000 

10  625  000 

48  150  000 

Chapter  83-4102  B8-3502 

7  500  000 

8  532  000 

8  959  000 

9  407  000 

9  877  000 

10  375  000 

47  150  000 

mlnI-budget 

Chapter  83-1000 

133  000 

150  000 

175  000 

200  000 

225  000 

250  000 

1  000  000 

Chapter  83-4102 
(New  German  Lander) 

400  000 

- 56 -

SME  IMPACT STATEMENT 
TITLE OF THE PROPOSAL: 

Draft Community  action  programme 
for disabled people 
HELIOS  II. 1992-96 

Reference  number  of document:V/1196/91 

The proposal ; 

1.  The aim of  the HELIOS Community  action programme  is to promote 

integration  in the field of  the education, occupational  and  economic 
integration  and  the  independent  lifestyle of  handicapped  people, more 
particularly  by  the following activities: 

To coordinate, undertake and stimulate exchanges of experience  and 
information at Community  level. 

To pursue,  in the framework of  the HANDYNET computerized  information and 
documentation system, the collection, updating, exchange  and 
dissemination of  information assembled  in the Member  States on  technical 
aids  for  the disabled. 
The HANDYNET  system will  be extended  to cover  training, employment, 
tourism  and  leisure pursuits. 

Cooperation with  the European non-governmental  organizations  (EURAS). 

As regards  the subsidiarity  principle, the HELIOS programme  is  limited to 
measures of  a European dimension, more particularly  exchanges of  experience 
and  information, and  the development  of collection and  information  software 
at Community  level  in the nine Community  languages. 

Impact on business: 

2.  Who will  be affected  by the proposal? 

The HELIOS  II programme  has no direct  effect on  the various  business 
sectors.  However, the HANDYNET system, which aims  to make  the European 
market  for  technical  aids more  transparent, will  have an effect  on  the 
technical  aids sector, which  is currently  dominated  in all  the Member 
States by a few national  undertakings. 

The  technical  aids for  the handicapped  sector  is mainly made up of small 
and medium-sized  businesses. 

Most of  the firms  in the technical  aids sector  are  to be found  in the 
north of  the Community. 

3.  Undertakings will  have to take no particular  measures  to comply with  the 

proposa I. 

-  57 -

4.  What  economic  effects  is the proposal  likely  to have? 

The action  programme  sets out  to promote employment  prospects  for  the 
handicapped  by developing  a general  Community  policy  based  on best 
experience and  practices  in the Member  States  in the  field of  economic 
integration, training  and occupâtional  rehabilitation. 

No direct  effects on  investment,  the creation of  new businesses or  the 
competitive position of  businesses. 

5.  The proposal  contains  no specific measures  for  small  and  medium-sized 

businesses. 

6.  Consultation: 

The government  representatives, the non-governmental  organizations 
representing  the handicapped  and  the two sides of  industry  represented  on 
the HELIOS Liaison Group  have been consulted on  the  proposal. 

ISSN 0254-1475 

COM (91) 350 final 

DOCUMENTS 

EN 

05 

Catalogue number : CB-CO-91-450-EN-C 

ISBN 92-77-76626-3 

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