about us

The Academic Network of European Disability experts (ANED) was created by the European Commission in December 2007. The aim is to establish and maintain a pan-European academic network in the disability field that will support policy development in collaboration with the Commission's Disability Unit.

ANED builds upon the expertise of existing disability research centres, supported by national experts, thematic rapporteurs, and links to relevant networks in the disability policy field. Its philosophy and aims support the objectives of European disability policy towards the goal of full participation and equal opportunities for all disabled people.

In this way, ANED provides a co-ordinating infrastructure of academic support for implementation of the European Disability Strategy and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

The Network is managed by Human European Consultancy in partnership with the Centre for Disability studies at the University of Leeds.

The Network operates under a service contract with the European Commission and consists of institutional members, being academic institutions, and individual experts covering the EU Member States and the EFTA countries Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway. In the service contract with the Commission there is one institution or individual expert for each of the countries which is the contact for ANED in that country. These institutions and individuals are responsible for the reporting on the situation in their country and they communicate with other institutions and experts in their country.