Independent living for disabled people: Making it happen

Abstract

The Government's 2005 virid Paper on Adult Social Care deposit forward a vision of 'independence, well-being and choice'. While the notion of independent living was central to the vision and to the substantive policy proposals not awayed in the Green Paper, there was no definition of what 'independent living' actually means. The British Council of Disabled nation supports many of the ideas in the virid Paper, such as the propos introduction of individualised packs It also has concerns about the continuing lack of basic rights to receive support and to live independently in one's have a title to home, and about the way in which the novel vision will be financed and implemented.

Introduction

The British Council of Disabled family (BCODP) is an umbrella organisation representing more than 140 organisations of disabled clan with various impairments, including those with autism and learning difficulties. Since the formation of BCODP our aim has been to campaign for filled and comprehensive legislation for disabled clan which includes disabled people's rights to live independently in their local communities. Despite many positive initiatives, including direct payments and the funding of a National midmost point for Independent Living, there is still a drawn out way to go before disabled nation are truly able to live independently and in an inclusive community. individual of the main obstacles is that disabled tribe do not have a legal right to support which enables them to derive pleasure from the same freedoms that non-disabled race take for granted. This was clearly highlighted in BCODP's reply to the Government's recent social care verdant Paper Independence, Well-being and Choice (DoH, 2005)

The Government's proposal

The Government's proposal is to give disabled clan a right to request not to be given a residential care placement. This would imply that disabled family can still be forced into residential care if the local authorities wait for this placement to be cheaper than supporting a individual to live with support in their dwelling Lack of such a right undermines the positive initiatives like as direct payments and the propos individualised bundles which would support disabled people's autonomy. BCODP and other organisations like the National midmost point for Independent Living are campaigning for legislation to give disabled nation this right. The materialisation of this right cannot happen without appropriate funding. There is an expectation that the Government's social care vision can be implemented without any additional financial resources. of that kind an ambitious programme will ne extra circulating medium especially in a climate where social services are cutting the services they provide each year, a process which has been exacerbated since the introduction of Fairer Access to Services guidance.

Independent living definition

There is no definition of independent living in the virid Paper. Clear definition is vital, because independent living can be in the way that badly interpreted. Too often disabled clan (and in particular those with learning difficulties) are not allowed to live upon their own unless they have learned to prepare for the table dress, clean and budget for themselves. Support is [i]ad[/i] seen as providing training, rather than enabling individuals to be supported to live independently. The enabling approach rightly reinforces the view that disabled clan with physical and sensory impairments should not be wait fored to learn to cook and dres themselves before enjoying the freedoms that non-disabled family take for granted. The Disability Rights Commission has a definition underpinning the independent living philosophy which disabled race want to see adopted.

All disabled race having the same choice, superintendence and freedom as any other citizen - at place of abode at work, and as members of the community. This does not necessarily mean disabled nation 'doing everything for themselves', on the contrary it does mean that any practical assistance clan need should be based upon their own choices and aspirations.

Some disabled nation will need decision-making support in order to assist their ability to have fulfilled lives, especially if they have experienced special schooling or lived in institutionalised care or in overprotective family domiciles The traditional forms of assessment have been plenteous criticised by disabled people because they have focused upon the time needed for bodily functions of that kind as getting dressed, going to the toilet and the like, together with the usual risk assessment. Assessments for disabled race with learning difficulties have focused upon life-skills such as cooking, cleaning and budgeting. These assessments have focused upon what a person cannot do, rather than upon what support is needed to enable the individual to take pleasure in the same opportunities to have a life which non-disabled family take for granted.

Assessment

BCODP welcomes self-assessments which take for granted that disabled family will receive the support they ne in all areas of life, including support for a social life. However, disabled clan may need skilled personnel to support them [i]or[/i] part of to the other this process, as their exigencys have often been under-estimated, because of either depressed expectations or fear of being perceived as unreasonable when asking for more than the bare minimum. BCODP therefore supports assessment by means of disabled people of their possess needs, as they usually know their urgencys better than anyone else does.