The European Platform for Rehabilitation (EPR) is a network of service providers working with people with disabilities committed to high-quality service delivery.

Our Motto

Learning and Innovating Together

Our Purpose & Our Mission

A society where every person can co-create quality services that bring about equal opportunities for all, social inclusion and quality of life.

To build the capacity of our members to provide sustainable, high-quality services in a competitive environment through mutual learning and training.

Disability and Rehabilitation

EPR upholds the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) understanding of disability, that it is “an evolving concept”, that “persons with disabilities include those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual or sensory impairments which in interaction with various barriers may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others”, and that “impairment is a valued aspect of human diversity”. EPR considers that disability is not an individual’s intrinsic feature but a result of that individual’s interaction in an environment, as noted in the International Classification of Functioning.

EPR has a broad and holistic understanding of the meaning of rehabilitation and takes this into account in the activities of the network.

For EPR, rehabilitation includes all activities working with individuals with a disability and others in vulnerable situations to empower them and enable them to access their rights, be included in all aspects of life and have the best possible quality of life. It encompasses all services that work to achieve this and throughout a person’s life.

EPR considers that rehabilitation services include prevention and early intervention, medical rehabilitation, social care, support and housing and social rehabilitation, vocational rehabilitation, vocational education and training; employment support.

Our Activities

EPR activities go beyond traditional mutual learning exchanges. Professionals from EPR members gather to benchmark and analyse effectiveness in service provision; improving quality of services and quality of life for clients, as well as positively impacting their daily work experience. EPR members co-create and pilot innovative products, tools and methods to better meet the needs of clients, employers and funders.

Our Strategic Priorities

• EPR enables Innovation in Service Provision
• EPR is a consistently growing, stable and sustainable network
• EPR promotes technology as an enabler of effective and efficient services that ensure inclusion, independent living, and rehabilitation
• EPR demonstrates leadership in supporting transitions in education, employment, independent living, and rehabilitation
• EPR is a point of reference for Quality Standards across Social Services of Excellence for persons with disabilities
• EPR grows its policy influence through targeted contributions and strategic partnerships

Could you be interested in joining our community? Find out more about membership here.

EPR Commitment to Gender Equality

Gender equality is a core value at EPR and shapes the way we work, lead and grow. Our Gender Equality Plan ensures that our policies and practices actively promote diversity, equity, and respect. We are committed to equal opportunities, fair treatment, and an inclusive culture in every aspect of our work and as an employer. 

EPR Legal Status

EPR is a democratically governed organisation with its own independent management structures and statutes. The platform is registered under Belgian law as a not-for-profit association (ASBL/ VZV, Reg. no. 864922670). For more information about our structures see here, and our secretariat here