Independent Living September 6, 2005

How It Evolved Primarily started in the 1960’s by small groups of college students with disabilities; most notably at the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana, and the University of California at Berkeley These students were responding to the lack of equal access and support services which would enable them to live independently They opposed the then current “Medical Model” of disability, and instead, proposed an “Independent Living Philosophy” as a new, civil rights’ movement

How a Social Movement Is Born “A significant social movement becomes possible when there is a revision in the manner in which a substantial group of people, looking at some misfortune, see it no longer as a misfortune warranting charitable consideration, but as an injustice which is intolerable in society.” Gerben DeJong

Goals of Centers for Independent Living EMPOWERMENT of consumers; through *Awareness of independent living options and services, *Promotion of Consumer Choice & Involvement in Services, *Assistance in addressing barriers to independence

4 Core Services offered by Centers for Independent Living - CILs Information & Referral Advocacy Peer Support Independent Living Skills Training

What Is Required to Live Independently?

The Importance of Personal Assistance Services What is a personal assistant or attendant? How does a personal assistant differ from a nurse or nurse’s aide? What types of services are available? The PA Model of services – how advocacy made a difference

Challenges to Independent Living Insufficient funding for necessary services Inconsistency of services/funding from state to state Public awareness of independent living centers / services Promoting “linkages” among community services For IL providers, acknowledging the consumers’ right to make mistakes or “fail”

Independent Living related Websites The National Council on Independent Living: http://www.ncil.org/ DIMENET database: http://www.tnet.com/dimenet/ American Disabled for Attendant Programs Today: http://www.adapt.org/ Justice for All: http://www.jfanow.org/ National Council on Disability: http://www.ncd.gov/ The CIL of North Central Florida: http://www.cilncf.org/ The Berkeley CIL: http://www.cilberkeley.org/

Outcomes of the Independent Living Movement Disability rights legislation; i.e. Rehab Act of 1973 & ADA Reshaped the thinking of disability professionals & researchers; i.e. Medical/Rehab. Model vs. Independent Living Model Spawned new service delivery models; i.e. CILs, personal assistance/attendant care services Promoted new research directions; i.e. grant funding priorities