Independent Living Institute

"In practice the Self-Help Factory does address the issues of powerlessness and isolation. This is because it is entirely run by disabled people who get access to managerial experience and who develop their negotiating skills in the course of running the business."
Friday Mavuso, Soweto

På svenska

Project Projimo:

A Program For and By Disabled People

by David Werner

På svenska | En français

 Interview: Regine Abadia and Ryadh Sallem

You’re listening to Radio Independent Living documenting disabled people‘s struggle for self-determination

For years Marcel Nuss has been fighting for his right to live like everybody else -, in the community and not in a residential institution. He had to fight, because he is disabled and uses a ventilator 24 hrs a day, because he needs personal assistance - and because he lives in France where people like him are still not considered to be ready for a life outside of hospital-like institutions.

In English | På svenska

Gestaltung: Peter Rudlof
Redaktionelle Begleitung: Wolfgang Mizelli
Sprecherin: Doris Rudlof-Garreis
Musik: Martin Moro und Hannes Urdl

Musik: „Circles“ (Martin Moro)

Originalton (OT) Jochen: "Na, es ist so, ich wohn jetzt seit zwei Jahren in meiner eigenen Wohnung und die Situation hat sich eben dahingehend total gebessert, dass ich jetzt praktisch ein völlig unabhängiges Leben führen kann,“

Sprecherin: SELBSTBESTIMMT LEBEN

OT Jochen weiter: „dass ich zum Beispiel private Treffen mit Freunden zum Beispiel so wahrnehmen kann, so wie ich des gerne möchte,“

På svenska | Auf Deutsch

Programme editor: Peter Rudlof
Editorial assistance: Wolfgang Mizelli
Presented by: Doris Rudlof-Garreis
Music: Martin Moro and Hannes Urdl
Translation: Anna Hadler

Music: “Circles" (Martin Moro)

Jochen: Well, I have been living in my own flat for two years and the living conditions have improved quite a lot because now I am in the position to lead an independent life.

Narrator: Independent Living

I can meet friends in private whenever and wherever I want without any restrictions...

Narrator: The story of a young man with disabilities from Austria

In English | Auf Deutsch

Program redaktör: Peter Rudlof
Redaktionsassistent: Wolfgang Mizelli
Presenterad av: Doris Rudlof-Garreis
Musik: Martin Moro and Hannes Urdl
Musik: "Circles" (Martin Moro)

Jochen: Sedan två år tillbaka bor jag nu i egen lägenhet och hela min livssituation har förändrats totalt. Numera är jag praktiskt taget helt oberoende. 

Speaker: Att leva ett självbestämt liv - berättelsen om en ung funktionshindrad man i Österrike.

Intervjuer och research Anne Rentzsch.

© BBC News - Tuesday, February 16, 1999

The study found life was ended to "preserve dignity".

Euthanasia controls are failing in the Netherlands, where the practice is regulated and tolerated, according to a report.

The finding has led campaigners to warn against decriminalising the practice in the UK.

Voluntary euthanasia has not been a criminal offence in Holland since 1984, when courts and the Royal Dutch Medical Association drew up strict guidelines for doctors.

However, a survey into medical practice regarding end of life decisions carried out in 1996 suggests some doctors are ignoring these safeguards.

Its findings are presented in the Journal of Medical Ethics.

"Legislation for Human Rights"
Stockholm, Sweden, 24 August 1998

Lydia Brichtová, Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs and Family of the Slovak Republic

Ladies and Gentlemen,

First of all I would like to tell you how happy I am to be able to come here to join you in the discussion about different national approaches for the protection of human and civil rights of people with disabilities.

Imagine for a moment you have a long-term disability - and an ardent desire to live independently. Let's say you use a wheelchair (as I do), and you need help getting in and out of the shower or fixing dinner or doing a load of wash.

Unless you have a family member able to volunteer 20 or more hours a week, your answer probably is a PCA or personal care attendant.

Unless you're well-fixed financially, you probably have to apply to the state for help in paying for such assistance.