Statutes of the Chamber (in Estonia)
The Development Plan of the Chamber 2017–2023 (in Estonia)

Vision:
The Estonian Chamber of Disabled People is an independent and professional former of disability policies and societal opinions.

Mission:
Improving the quality of life, social inclusion and opportunities for personal fulfilment for disabled and chronically ill people through advocacy and cooperation.

Strategic objectives of the Chamber are:

1. The interests and rights of disabled and chronically ill people are taken into account in policy making.
2. The social inclusion and opportunities for personal fulfilment for disabled and chronically ill people have improved.
3. The Estonian Chamber of Disabled People is a strong, open, professional and sustainable organisation.

Challenges at the beginning of the new development plan period 2017–2023:

• Replacing the project-based financing of the Chamber with regular financing to ensure confidence and stability.
• Implementing and regularising the monitoring of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
• Better connecting the social, health, work and education fields and increasing the availability of services with the aim of improving the socio-economic status of disabled and chronically ill people and reducing administrative burden and the burden of care.
• Helping to implement the work ability and administrative reforms and to transform the special care services and the national legal aid system in accordance with the needs of the disabled and chronically ill people.
• Improving accessibility in public spaces and homes.
• Supporting the sustainable operational effectiveness of the Chamber’s organisations.

Trends that will influence the Estonian Chamber of Disabled People in the future:

• The identity of disabled and chronically ill people is changing, it is not linked to the disability and/or the illness as extensively as it used to be.
• The disabled and chronically ill no longer need an association because their needs have changed. It may be necessary to operate in the circumstances of a dwindling and aging membership.
• The advocacy model of the Estonian Chamber of Disabled People for disabled and chronically ill people is changing – we are increasingly representing the whole target group not just the interests of the members of the member organisations.
• The role of the Estonian Chamber of Disabled People as an intermediary has transformed – what is important is to separate the essential and reliable information from the rest and the speed of communication.
• Inclusion in policy-making is changing. A problem of formal or fake inclusion has emerged.
• Changes brought about by the administrative and state reforms influence the organisation of social services and social benefits.
• Possible negative impact on the development of the sector due to decreasing volumes of resources from the European Social Fund.