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Independent Living, Politics and Implications

Barnes, Colin.  2003.  Independent Living, Politics and Implications.
English

Contents

Introduction

Conventional Thinking on Disability and the Challenge from Disabled People and their Organisations

Independent Living in the 21st Century

Conclusion

References

Introduction

Rehabilitation for Disabled People: a ‘sick’ joke?

Barnes, Colin.  2003.  Rehabilitation for Disabled People: a ‘sick’ joke?
English

Colin Barnes (Centre for Disability Studies, University of Leeds, England).

(Penultimate draft of an article submitted for publication in a special issue of the ‘Scandinavian Journal of Research’, Volume 5. 2003).

Korea: Disabled Hope for Infrastructure for Support

Ji-young, Kwon.  2005.  Korea: Disabled Hope for Infrastructure for Support.
English

 

Source: The Korea Herald, 2005-05-19

Although the government estimates there are 1.6 million disabled people inKorea and civil activist groups say there are 4.5 million, "Where arethey?" is a question which many ask.

It reflects the isolation in which the disabled live. Despite the apparentinvisibility of the disabled population, however, what is currently going onbehind the scenes is a volatile and compelling movement for a new law to protectdisabled rights.

15 års erfarenhet med personlig assistans och några erfarenheter med peer counselling

Elmén, Bengt.  1987.  15 års erfarenhet med personlig assistans och några erfarenheter med peer counselling. Stiletten, nr. 2, 1987.
Swedish

Anförande vid stiftelsen solstickans pilotseminar om "meningsfull fritid för gravt handikappade ungdomar," ABF-huset, Stockholm den 26 januari 1987. Från "Stiletten" nr. 2, 1987.

Min första personliga assistant fick jag i samband med att jag skolintegrerades i mellanstadiet. Det innebar för mig att jag först då kunde börja bestämma över mitt eget liv, i varje fall under skoldagen. Dittills hade jag varit beroende av olika institutionella lösningar i form av specialklasser m m vilka för mig inneburit att andra hela tiden hade bestämt vad jag skulle få hjälp med och därmed också hur mitt liv skulle inrättas. Med en personlig assistant kunde jag däremot själv bestämma hur mitt liv skulle gestaltas.

Experiences with Successful Policy for Community-Based Services

Grunewald, Karl.  2005.  Experiences with Successful Policy for Community-Based Services. Europe in Action 2005, Prague May 19 - 21.
English

 

A Society Without Institutions

With independent living means that one lives either with one's own family, by oneself or with a small group of people in an ordinary flat or house.

The term institution refers to one or more houses that are separated from their surroundings. In an institution many people live together. They are divided into different units. All special services, such as for example training facilities, and daily activities are a part of the institution.

Close the Institutions for the Intellectually Disabled - Everyone Can Live in the Open Society

Grunewald, Karl.  2003.  Close the Institutions for the Intellectually Disabled - Everyone Can Live in the Open Society. A pamphlet on the European Year of People with Disabilities.
English

By Karl Grunewald, M.D., Professor,
Vesslev. 12, S-13150 Saltsjo-Duvnas, Sweden. karl.grunewald@swipnet.se

Former Head of Division for Care of People with Disability,
National Board of Health and Welfare, Stockholm

2003

 

"All men are born free and equal in dignity and
rights." UN 1948

A society that discriminates its disabled citizens
is a disabled society.

Free copyright!

PDF, 109 KB

File attachments: 
PDF icon grunewald2003.pdf

The user cooperative model in personal assistance: The example of STIL, the Stockholm Cooperative for Independent Living

Dr. Adolf Ratzka.  1993.  The user cooperative model in personal assistance: The example of STIL, the Stockholm Cooperative for Independent Living.
English

by Dr. Adolf D. Ratzka
founder and former chairperson of STIL, Stockholm, Sweden

 

Personal assistance, like no other service, illustrates the key elements of Independent Living. People who need personal assistance have always been made dependent on others for the most basic needs of life such as eating or using the toilet. Given this physical dependency the conclusion was close at hand to consider us as dependent on others also emotionally and intellectually. If you cannot pull up your pants like a small child, you may be treated like a small child in other areas as well. It is no surprise then that the Independent Living philosophy is most easily grasped by people who need personal assistance.

Traditional Swedish Personal Assistance Services

Vi måste lära oss att hävda oss

Abidi, Javed.  1999.  Vi måste lära oss att hävda oss. Disability Awareness in Action Newsletter, nummer 74, juli 1999.
Swedish

av Javed Abidi, Executive Director,
National Centre for Promotion of Employment of Disabled, i Indien

In English 

 

Artikeln har tidigare publicerats i Disability Awareness in Action Newsletter, nummer 74, juli 1999.

Javed Abidis ursprungliga artikel från vilken dessa utdrag tagits publicerades ursprungligen i DeepShitha, Spastics Society of Eastern Indias nyhetsblad i december 1998.

 

We (Disabled People) Must Learn to Exert Ourselves

Abidi, Javed.  1999.  We (Disabled People) Must Learn to Exert Ourselves. Disability Awareness in Action Newsletter no. 74, July 1999.
English

by Javed Abidi
Executive Director, National Centre for Promotion of Employment of Disabled, India

På svenska

This article appeared in Disability Awareness in Action Newsletter no. 74, July 1999.

Javed Abidi's original article, from which these extracts were taken, were originally published in DeepShitha, the journal of the Spastics Society of Eastern India, in December 1998.

Is Personal Assistance Relevant for Developing Countries?

Dr. Adolf Ratzka.  2006.  Is Personal Assistance Relevant for Developing Countries?
English

s Personal Assistance Relevant for Developing Countries?

by:Adolf Ratzka, December 2006

Photo of K. Stone.blank spaceSee Curriculum Vitae.

A Matter of Perception

King, Audrey.  2006.  A Matter of Perception.
English

photo of Audrey King

Audrey King, M.A., is an internationally known writer, speaker, and advocate on disability issues. A trained rehabilitation psychologist she is the author of two books, Count Me In (1985) and There's Lint in Your Belly Button (1987), both of which focus on integration of persons with disabilities in society. Ms King has been using ventilator, electric wheelchair and personal assistance since 1952.

Company Disability Policy Guidelines and Self-assessment Checklist

[Anonymous].  2005.  Company Disability Policy Guidelines and Self-assessment Checklist.
English

A company's commitment to diversity in staff, customers or clients is part of its organizational identity. As such it needs to be expressed and displayed in a statement on the company's website. The policy regarding people with disabilities should be a distinct part of the document.

This document is also available in PDF format here.

Checklist for University Disability Information and Self-assessment questions

Independent Living Institute, Sweden.  2005.  Checklist for University Disability Information and Self-assessment questions.
English

 

This document is also available in PDF format here.
Your university should have a policy with respect to people with disabilities and information for people with disabilities. Both should be easy to find, informative and accessible. 

Modelo para una Política Nacional de Asistencia Personal

Dr., Ratzka Adolf;.  2004.  Modelo para una Política Nacional de Asistencia Personal.
Spanish
La política sugerida aquí es diferente, porque está escrita por individuos quienes en sí dependen de la asistencia diaria de otros. El Centro Europeo para la Excelencia en Asistencia Personal (ECEPA) (www.ecepa.org) está formado por ocho organizaciones asociadas 1, en ocho países europeos, que son operadas y controladas por personas con discapacidad y se especializa en brindar y defender los servicios de asistencia personal para personas con discapacidad. Usando nuestra experiencia combinada con las políticas de asistencia personal, se recopiló una lista de características para una política que promueve la autodeterminación y la ciudadanía completa para las personas con discapacidades extensivas.
File attachments: 
PDF icon POLÍTICA NACIONAL DE ASISTENCIA PERSONAL.pdf

The Independent Living Movement in the UK

Evans, John.  2003.  The Independent Living Movement in the UK.
English
John Evans was one of the founders of Project 81 that marked the beginning of the Independent Living Movement in the UK. Since 1996 he has been the chair of the European Network on Independent Living (ENIL). In this document he gives an overview of the origin of the Independent Living Movement in the UK, it's development and evolution, as well as the current situation (2003).

What is Independent Living - A Personal Definition

Dr., Ratzka Adolf;.  2003.  What is Independent Living - A Personal Definition.
English
photo of bamboo Bamboo, symbol of
strength through resilience.

Independent Living is a philosophy and a movement of people with disabilities who work for self-determination, equal opportunities and self-respect.

Independent Living does not mean that we want to do everything by ourselves and do not need anybody or that we want to live in isolation.

Vad är Independent Living - en personlig definition

Dr., Ratzka Adolf;.  2003.  Vad är Independent Living - en personlig definition.
Swedish
photo of bamboo Bamboo, symbol of
strength through resilience.

Independent Living är en filosofi och en internationell rörelse av människor med funktionshinder som arbetar för självbestämmande, lika villkor och självrespekt.

Independent Living betyder inte att vi vill göra allt själv, att vi inte behöver andra människor eller att vi vill leva isolerat.

The Craving of the Benevolent

Berg, Susanne.  2003.  The Craving of the Benevolent.
English

Susanne Berg and her catSusanne Berg has been actively involved in the Swedish disability movement since the mid-1980s. She lectures, writes and speaks on a range of subjects from disability history and awareness to accessibility to the physical environment. Susanne sees column writing as therapy, loves her cat and hates 1111descriptions like this.

 Listening to the angry argument between my Swiss friend and our table neighbour I try to look undisturbed; cool, calm and aloof. They are arguing about me, or rather the right to cut my sausages.

Publish Your Texts Here Free of Charge

Thank you for considering contributing to our virtual library on Independent Living and related themes. Documents published here are often quoted and we do our best to keep them available. We don't move them around either. Sending us a copy of your writing is a good way to have more people read it.

English

I think I finally made the grade, I've become world's worst on empathy, by Susnnne Berg, June 2002

Berg, Susanne.  2002.  I think I finally made the grade, I've become world's worst on empathy, by Susnnne Berg, June 2002.
English
Susanne Berg and her catblank spaceSusanne Berg has been actively involved in the Swedish disability movement since the mid-1980s. She lectures, writes and speaks on a range of subjects from disability history and awareness to accessibility to the physical environment. Susanne sees column writing as therapy, loves her cat and hates descriptions like this.

 

Employing your own personal assistant - Tools for Power

GAD's Center for Independent Living.  1989.  Employing your own personal assistant - Tools for Power.
English
GAD's Center for Independent Living can help. (1993) We have already assisted nearly a dozen people in the employment of their own personal assistants. This really does put you, the disabled person in control. You can decide who to employ, which hours they should work and what they should do. But control brings with it responsibilities and this is where GAD can help.

Ugly

Stone, Karen.  2001.  Ugly.
English

photo of K. Stoneblank space Everyone in the apartment complex I lived in knew who Ugly was. Ugly was the resident tomcat.

Ugly loved three things in this world: fighting, eating garbage, and shall we say, love. The combination of these things combined with a life spent outside had their effect on Ugly.

Disability issues: organizing community support - Tools for Power

ILRU.  1992.  Disability issues: organizing community support - Tools for Power.
English

Advocacy
Disability issues: organizing community support

Developing assistants management skills - Tools for Power

Care Support Ideas, HCIL (Hampshire Center for Independent Living).  1992.  Developing assistants management skills - Tools for Power.
English
With little or no previous experience the disabled person seeking to live independently suddenly finds her/himself thrust into the role of employer. Not surprisingly the effective management skills essential to coping with the day-to-day matter of relating to her/his personal assistant are sometimes absent or under-developed.

The Strasbourg Resolutions

European Network on Independent Living(ENIL).  1989.  The Strasbourg Resolutions.
English
In April 1989, the first European Independent Living Conference was held at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France. The meeting's theme was Personal Assistant. The conference resulted in the founding of the European Network for Independent Living, ENIL. Here, the resolution adopted at the conference.

An American definition of Independent Living

ILRU.  1992.  An American definition of Independent Living.
English

An American definition of Independent Living
ILRU at Texas Institute for Rehabilitation

Possibilities of Independent Living of persons with disabilities in Africa

Silwimba, Felix.  1992.  Possibilities of Independent Living of persons with disabilities in Africa.
English

Independent Living:
Ideology & definitions
African art

Possibilities of Independent Living of
persons with disabilities in Africa

by Felix Silwimba

Power to the people

D'Aubin, April.  1992.  Power to the people.
English

History of the Independent Living Movement

Power to the people

by April D'Aubin

Declaring independence in Berkeley

Kleinfield, Sonny.  1992.  Declaring independence in Berkeley.
English

by Sonny Kleinfield. This is a reprint of an old article in "Psychology today", for a flavor of the original CIL, Center for Independent Living.

European Network on Independent Living: disability rights

Dr. Adolf Ratzka.  1999.  European Network on Independent Living: disability rights.
English

logo of European Network on Independent Living

ENIL is the umbrella of individuals and organizations dedicated to promoting Independent Living among persons with disabilities and the general public in Europe.

The website for ENIL is now at https://enil.eu/

This page is from 1999.

Independent Living is a philosophy and a movement of people with disabilities who work for equal opportunities, self-respect and self-determination.

Time Magazine Recognizes Adolf Ratzka as European Visionary

[Anonymous].  1998.  Time Magazine Recognizes Adolf Ratzka as European Visionary. Time Magazine.
English
In 1961, German-born teenager Adolf Ratzka was paralyzed by polio. He seemed destined to spend his life in institutions, but at 22 won a scholarship to study in California. The U.S. was then the only country with Photograph of Dr. Adolf Ratzka together with daughter, Katharina.facilities, such as a personal assistant and a car that could be driven by wheelchair-bound people, enabling severely disabled persons to pursue normal academic study.

Towards a more helpful society

Bang, Marian.  1996.  Towards a more helpful society.
English

The world is full of devices that make daily tasks easier. For the disabled, assistive devices make daily tasks possible. Marian Bang spoke to the Disability Action Research Team (DART) who see research into these as far more than just reports on paper. Rather they are a tool for empowering both those with abilities and their care-givers.

Introduction to direct payments for personal assistance

Dr. Adolf Ratzka.  1996.  Introduction to direct payments for personal assistance.
English
Presentation given at the HELIOS Study Visit on Independent Living and Personal Assistance in Stockholm, June 7-9, 1996.

Supporting families in keeping disabled family members at home: Swedish policy instruments

Dr. Adolf Ratzka.  1995.  Supporting families in keeping disabled family members at home: Swedish policy instruments.
English

In most countries the importance of the family as a form of social insurance is declining. As the extended family gradually disappears with industrialization and the labor market's demands on geographical mobility, as divorce rates go up and single parents become increasingly common, the ability of the family to provide mutual aid in everyday life is diminishing. One of the results is that families have fewer resources left for members with special needs such as disabled children or old parents. If there is no place for these groups in the family, where can they turn to?

What is your personal definition of Independent Living?

Dr., Ratzka Adolf;.  1992.  What is your personal definition of Independent Living?
English

 Personal accounts

What is your personal definition of Independent Living?

 
It is the ability to live independently and productively in the community and to live with the same freedom of choice as a non-disabled person. So it's not that you are living on your own but that you control where you live and have the same range of choices as a non-disabled person. (Jill Weiss)

Personal assistance in Germany, overview and external links

Independent Living Institute.  2014.  Personal assistance in Germany, overview and external links.
English

Around 2000 people have personal assistance financed through personal budgets in Germany. Germany has a population of 80 million so 2000 PA users are not very many.

Links:

The ANED country report on the implementation of policies supporting independent living for
disabled people for Germany.

 

Personal assistance in Norway, overview and external links

Independent Living Institute.  2014.  Personal assistance in Norway, overview and external links.
English

There are 3000 people getting personal assistance in Norway (2012 total population 5 million). Figures from ENIL state an average of 47 hours per week for members of one cooperative assistance provider (2013).

http://lovdata.no/dokument/NL/lov/2014-06-20-41
(The legal amendment granting right to personal assistance)

http://www.regjeringen.no/nb/dep/hod/dok/regpubl/prop/2013-2014/Prop-86-L-20132014.html?id=758644
(proposition for changes to the law)

Personal assistance in Belgium, overview and external links

Independent Living Institute.  2014.  Personal assistance in Belgium, overview and external links.
English

According to the  ENIL Personal Assistance Tables for Belgium there were 2112 PAB (personal assistance budget) users in Flanders (nov 2012) and 250 PAB users in Wallonia. 6000 more people are waiting for a personal assistance budget. Belgium has a population of 11 million people.

Links:

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