Inclusion and communication expert Saphir Ben Dakon and Stephanie Weiss, Professor of Social Work at Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts, will address issues of structural violence and discrimination against people with disabilities in Switzerland. From different, complementary perspectives, the focus will be on the role of communication (language, images, narratives) in the reproduction or removal of structural barriers and the current situation of barrier-free access in the built environment, in public spaces and in housing. Together with the audience, the main challenges and concrete action steps for politicians, institutions and professionals will be discussed.

If you are interested, you must register. Participation is possible offline or online.

The exchange session strengthens the skills of professionals and decision-makers in dealing professionally with discrimination. The focus is not on racial discrimination, but on discrimination based on poverty, disability, age, gender and multidimensional discrimination and corresponding strategies for action.

The focus is on the questions:

What does discrimination mean?

What instruments and protection mechanisms are available?

What resources are available to professionals to recognize discrimination and take effective countermeasures?

Anisha Imhalsy and Saphir Ben Dakon will give a workshop in the afternoon from 3.00-5.00 p.m. in which they will shed light on the conditions for successful institutional opening in the context of underrepresentation.

The 2nd edition of the InkluVision inclusion festival at the Debattierhaus Karl der Grosse invites you to once again send a strong signal for an inclusive society and help shape our common future.

The focus of this year's festival is Article 19 of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities: "Independent living and inclusion in the community". Accordingly, the focus of the program is on the topics of independence, self-determination and community.

A first highlight of the festival is the opening evening with a panel discussion and a reading on the subject of participation. Other items on the program include a conference on the world of work, a workshop for people with disabilities on the topic of self-determination, a children's disco and an inclusion conference focusing on participation in the world of work.

The Swiss Library Congress 2025 will take place from Thursday, October 30 to Friday, October 31, 2025 in the Kursaal in Bern. The congress is aimed at librarians from all types of libraries and employees of information and documentation centers. Visitors can expect exciting presentations, workshops, panel discussions and library visits.

But of course there will also be plenty of partying and a congress party on Thursday evening.

Anyone who wants to get up on Friday, October 31, 2025, will experience the keynote speech by Saphir Ben Dakn, communication and inclusion expert with the title: Who is told, belongs: Inclusion in Language and Practice.

In our schools, all pupils should be supported according to their abilities. But studies show: Social background has a strong influence on educational success. The Human Resources Management symposium sheds light on the causes of educational disadvantage and shows ways to achieve more equal opportunities.

Saphir Ben Dakon is organizing two forums on the topic: Ableism in the education system - reflection and scope for action

The aim of the forum is to raise awareness of the barriers that people with disabilities face in their educational biographies. The various levels and forms of ableism (discrimination against and towards people with disabilities) will be discussed. The focus will be on the interaction of students with educational professionals and the school as a system. The aim is to find out how professionals with different perspectives can rethink approaches and break down barriers in joint networks. The search for solutions takes place in a participatory way, moving around the room.

You are welcome to come along!

Saphir Ben Dakon, communication and inclusion expert, will moderate this panel discussion, which aims to identify opportunities for action for more inclusive religious communities.

People with disabilities also face various barriers when practicing their faith. For example, they are unable to enter many sacred spaces without assistance because the necessary equipment is missing, or deaf people cannot follow a sermon because there is no sign language translation. In order for these people to be able to participate in the life and activities of a religious community, it is necessary for sacred spaces to be designed to be barrier-free.

At this event, people with different religious affiliations will explain the obstacles they face in this context and what measures would improve access to such spaces and enable them to take advantage of services.

The workshop "Between the lines. How ableism influences our communication" is about drawing the attention of cultural professionals to forms of ableism in words and images. The aim is to empower people to create the most inclusive tenders possible. This is done by raising awareness of structural/social barriers that reproduce and cement discrimination against people with disabilities. Building on this, the influence of discrimination in interpersonal communication is addressed. There will always be room for reflection. With the newly acquired knowledge, we will work as a group on general practical examples of ableism in speech and language.

In a final step, we look at an inclusive tender and record in groups what we notice and discuss target-oriented ways to achieve an inclusive result. We also reflect on how our own thought process can be constantly questioned using a checklist and how inclusive language can be incorporated into our daily work.

This year, the cantomale Kinder- und Jugendförderung Zürich is organizing impulse events on the topic of participation. The final focus is dedicated to the opportunities for children and young people who are affected by migrantization and/or ableism.

As part of the event, Saphir will give a keynote speech on the topic of "The impact of ableism on the life biography of
people with disabilities". In the afternoon, she will moderate a panel on "Talking about the realities of life with disabilities".

The event is aimed at members of the authorities, child and youth representatives, specialists in child and youth development and open and church-based child and youth work.

At the 11th Arkadis National Symposium, participants will address the question: "Who is in charge here? Participation of people with high support needs.

In her presentation, Saphir Ben Dakon critically scrutinizes the question from the perspective of self-affectedness and explains how communication has a direct influence on power structures in a contractual relationship and can ultimately help to cement them. She also addresses the topic of ableism in the context of leadership care and explains how self-determination, independence and inclusion are interconnected.

At the Sebit Aargau summer party, Saphir Ben Dakon will give a speech on the status of the UN CRPD in Switzerland. The speech will begin at around 19:00. Attendance at the summer party is free of charge.

As part of the Future Inclusion Action Days, we would also like to draw attention to the topic of intersectionality. To this end, the Parandalo Center is organizing various events on the topic of migration and disability.

Parandalo is the competence center for advice, support, information and mediation for people with a migration background.

This expertise will soon be available in writing in the form of a guide that makes Parandalo's experience and expertise available to other agencies.

Valdete Hoti, coordinator of the Parandalo Center, and Saphir Ben Dakon discuss self-determination and equal opportunities for people with disabilities and migrant backgrounds. They will be asking the following question: How can we ensure that people with a migration background and disabilities are aware of their rights and can exercise them and their obligations?

Come and find out on Thursday, May 31, 2024, 18:30-20:30 at GZ Oerlikon, Gubelstrasse 10, 8050 Zurich.

The city of Kloten is home to around 22,000 people from over 120 different nations. These include young and old people with and without disabilities.

Together with various partners, the city shows how important it is to include everyone and what services are available in Kloten. At 1 p.m., City Councillor Regula Kaeser-Stöckli welcomes people to the town square.

This will be followed by a presentation by transformation manager, communications and inclusion expert Saphir Ben Dakon, who will explain the importance of the UN CRPD in relation to inclusion and highlight the role of municipalities and the civilian population.

Bernhard Krauss, Head of the Disability Rights Coordination Office of the Canton of Zurich, will also give a presentation. Visitors can learn more about inclusion and experience a change of perspective at various stands.

Saphir Ben Dakon will give an input presentation on "Overcoming systemic obstacles - the influence of ableism on educational biographies and career choices" at the Integras conference on special needs education.

The aim of the presentation is to find answers to the following questions:

- How does the discourse surrounding the skills shortage affect children and young people with disabilities and their educational biographies?

- What systemic obstacles exist for people with disabilities in the education and labor market?

- How can networks support education professionals and how should such networks be structured?

There will also be a panel discussion on the topic of "Strengthening networks in times of skills shortages" with Saphir Ben Dakon as one of the guests.

Location: Eventfabrik Bern Service AG
Von Roll, Fabrikstrasse 12, 3012 Bern