Proud, Strong and Visible

European Network on Independent Living

ENIL is a user-led network of disabled people, with members throughout Europe. Our mission is to advocate for Independent Living values, principles and practices: provision of personal assistance and other community supports and services, a barrier-free environment and adequate technical aids, together making full citizenship of disabled people possible.

Join ENIL Join ENIL Youth

Power chair user with microphone screaming with fist raised. Across the website, photos show ENIL members in everyday and activist settings. Some use wheelchairs. There is a mix of genders. Most have white skin.

About our organisation

ENIL is a network based on solidarity and peer support

ENIL is a forum for all disabled people, Independent Living organisations and their non-disabled allies on the issues of Independent Living. ENIL represents the disability movement for human rights and social inclusion, based on solidarity, peer support, deinstitutionalisation, democracy, self-representation, cross-disability and self-determination. Our vision is of Europe where all disabled people are able to exercise choice and control over their lives, on an equal level with others; where they are valued members of the community and can enjoy all of their human rights, as set out in the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

Subscribe Donate

“>

What do we do ?

Campaigns

Learn more about our campaigns, such as the Freedom Drive.

Projects

Find out about our projects and download the project results.

Factsheet

Explore the themes ENIL is working on, such as Independent Living or deinstitutionalisation.

Join us!

ENIL provides a platform for grassroots activists and organisations

ENIL works to strengthen the empowerment of disabled people, through providing resources for peer support and peer-to-peer training. ENIL enhances the European disability sector by providing an arena for the sharing of disabled people’s experience of services and by providing expertise on independent living. Our Youth Network brings together young people, making their voice heard in the independent living movement.

Recent News

View all news

Participating at the “Quality Essentials of International Youth Activities” Training

14 years ago, ENIL Youth Network was created during a study session at the European Youth Centre in Strasbourg. And today as well, 30 …

February 23, 2026

Open Call: “Lead On” International Leadership and Human Rights Training Course for Youth

Join the Crew. Chart the Course. Claim the Treasure. Become part of the “Lead On” international training course, organised by the ENIL Youth Network with support …

Stop segregation now! For an EU-Budget in support of Independent Living

Demands of the European Network on Independent Living for the next 7 year EU-Budget Until the end of 2027 the national governments and the …

February 17, 2026

Independent Living Map

Find out about Independent Living in your country

The Independent Living survey was launched in 2020, to find about the state of independent living around Europe. Its results are updated regularly and shared with policy and decision makers at the European level.

Access IL Map