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