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Six collaboration meetings, one workshop and one seminar

The Nordic Youth Disability Summit comprised several collaboration meetings in which different policy and business areas, councils and expert groups in the Nordic Council of Ministers had the opportunity to discuss current issues and topics with representatives of organisations for young people with disabilities.
The following cooperation meetings and workshop were held:

1. Collaboration meeting on the funding scheme for increased collaboration in the Nordic region 

Participants:
- Representatives of organisations for young people with disabilities 
- Kai Koivumäki, Deputy Director and Operations manager, Secretariat for the Funding Scheme, Nordic Welfare Centre 
Agenda:
• How the funding scheme can help develop cooperation between organisations for young people with disabilities in the Nordic region.

2. Workshop – The Nordic expert group and Nordic youth representatives of organisations for young people with disabilities

Participants:
- Representatives of organisations for young people with disabilities 
- The Nordic expert group – Children and young people's right to be heard, the consequences of the corona crisis
- Merethe Løberg, Senior Adviser, Children and youth, Nordic Welfare Centre
Agenda:
• How can the work of student councils be strengthened in a way that contributes to an equal and inclusive learning environment for all students, especially young people in vulnerable life situations and children and young people with disabilities?

3. Collaboration meetings with the internal network

Participants:
- Representatives of organisations for young people with disabilities 
- Representatives of the internal network in the Nordic Council of Ministers on the implementation of the disability perspective
- Eeva Mielonen, Senior Adviser, Department of Knowledge and Welfare, Secretariat of the Nordic Council of Ministers.
Agenda:
• Current topics are about the number of students with disabilities who apply for exchange via the Nordplus programme – and cooperation on marketing the Nordplus programme.

4. Collaboration meetings with the Disability Council

Participants:
- Representatives of organisations for young people with disabilities 
- Council for Nordic Cooperation on Disability (Disability Council)
- Secretariat of the Nordic Council of Ministers, Eeva Mielonen, Senior Adviser, Department of Knowledge and Welfare
- Secretariat from the Nordic Welfare Centre 
Agenda:
• Welcome from the Secretary General of the Nordic Council of Ministers – Karen Elleman
• How to safeguard the perspective of children and young people with disabilities in the implementation of Programme 2023–2027

5. Inclusive working life – Expert seminar

Participants:
- Representatives of organisations for young people with disabilities 
- Council for Nordic Cooperation on Disability
- Experts on inclusive working life from Nordic authorities and academia
- Secretariat from the Nordic Welfare Centre
Agenda:
• How can we take advantage of the great opportunities offered by digital and technological developments to increase inclusion?
• What strategies do we have for the inclusion of people with disabilities in a working life shaped by technological developments?
• Discussion of policies and strategies for inclusion in the working life of the future and the technology that is helping to shape it.

6. Collaboration meeting for the leaders of disability organisations for young people in the Nordic region (parts 1–3)

Participants:
- Representatives of organisations for young people with disabilities 
- Sammenslutningen af unge med handicap (SUMH), Denmark
- The Norwegian Association of Youth with Disabilities/Unge Funksjonshemmede, Norway
- Secretariat from the Nordic Welfare Centre
Agenda:
• Exchange of information on key issues for the organisations
- which issues are important to the organisations right now?
- how does each organisation work with such issues?
- which partners/stakeholders (authorities, other NGOs) are involved in the issues?
• Prepare a joint statement for the Nordic Council of Ministers’ Freedom of Movement Council
• Prepare a joint statement for the inclusive workplace expert seminar
• How is it possible to increase cooperation between the Nordic organisations for young people with disabilities?
• How to safeguard the perspective of children and young people with disabilities in the implementation of Programme 2023–2027