Julian Moser campaigns for inclusion as Swiss parliament weighs initiative

Julian Moser, a 19-year-old with cerebral palsy, is campaigning for greater equality for people with disabilities as Switzerland’s National Council debates the Inclusion Initiative, SRF reports.

Moser lives independently in an apartment in Zurich, but needs extensive help with everyday activities. An assistant helps him cook, eat, drink, shop and dress. The support is mainly provided in the evening and at night. If he wants to attend an appointment outside during the day, he must apply for additional hours.

The disability insurance system funds eight hours of assistance each day. Moser says he needs more support to participate in social and working life.

He wanted to start an apprenticeship, but the required workload proved unmanageable. Moser offered the federal government an apprenticeship at 60 percent, but says the disability insurance system attached conditions that he could not meet. It was prepared to finance an 80 percent apprenticeship, which Moser considered too demanding alongside his other commitments.

Moser is already an employer: he coordinates the work schedules of his assistants, a task that requires considerable energy. Physiotherapy also takes up additional time.

The Inclusion Initiative was submitted on September 5, 2024. It calls for the constitutional recognition of the legal and practical equality of people with and without disabilities in all areas of life.

The Federal Council opposes the initiative but has presented an indirect counterproposal. It would promote self-determined living, provide more modern aids such as prostheses and hearing devices, simplify access to disability insurance assistance payments and review the implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

On Tuesday, Moser travelled to Bern with other people with disabilities to lobby at the Federal Palace, Switzerland’s parliament building, ahead of the National Council debate. He said the journey was demanding because he had to organise assistance and call Swiss Federal Railways to register his travel in advance.

Moser and his fellow campaigners also had to wait longer during the security check at the Federal Palace. He reached the building’s main lobby with little difficulty, using the entrance ramp and a lift to speak to members of parliament about his experiences.

The National Council discussed the initiative and the Federal Council’s counterproposal the following day but did not reach a decision. The debate will continue on September 21. The initiative has little chance of succeeding, while the counterproposal could win a majority.

Moser says he plans to remain politically active and hopes to hold public office in the future, whether as a member of the National Council, the Council of States or Zurich’s city council. His role model is Social Democratic National Councillor and disability rights activist Islam Alijaj.