The document discusses the philosophy of independent living for people with disabilities. It defines independent living as allowing disabled people to have equal opportunities, self-determination, and self-respect to live independently and participate fully in society. It discusses organizations like Centers for Independent Living that are run by disabled people and aim to empower individuals and groups to control their own lives and effect changes in how disabled people are viewed. It also outlines 12 basic needs that must be met to achieve independent living, such as access to housing, transportation, education, employment and healthcare.

1. INDEPENDENT LIVING
Presented by:
Sidra Manzoor
3rd year
Orthotics and Prosthetics
Rawalpindi Medical College

2. INDEPENDENT LIVING
 Independent living, as seen by its advocates, is a
philosophy, a way of looking at society and disability, and
a worldwide movement of people with disabilities working
for equal opportunities, self-determination, and self-
respect.

3. Health and Social Care (Independent Living)
Bill [HL] 2009-10
 The purpose of the Health and Social Care (Independent Living) Bill is
to create the conditions in which disabled people can live
independent lives, and enjoy the same choice, freedom, dignity,
control and substantive opportunities as persons who are not disabled,
at home, work and as members of the community.
(Lord Ashley of Stoke has tabled this Bill, under the title of Disabled
Persons (Independent Living) Bill, in the previous three parliamentary
sessions, most recently on 9 December 2008. )

4. SOUTHAMPTON CENTER OF
INDEPENDENT LIVING:
 An organisation run and controlled by disabled people, working to the
principles of the social model of disability.
 THEIR AIM:
 to provide a means by which disabled people may take control over
their own lives, achieve full participation in all spheres of society, and
effect changes in how they are viewed and treated;
 to provide encouragement, assistance, advice, support and facilities
to individuals or groups wishing to live independently, and to raise the
expectations of disabled people, individually and collectively, and
ensure that their voice be heard.

5. DIRECT PAYMENT?
Direct Payments are different from other Social Care provisions. They
were designed by Disabled People as an emancipation tool. As such they
should not be split from the following principles:
 The Social Model of Disability
 Empowerment
 Independent Living

6. THE SOCIAL MODEL OF
DISABILLITY:
The social model of
disability says that disability is
caused by the way society is
organised, rather than by a
person's impairment or
difference. It looks at ways of
removing barriers that restrict
life choices
for disabled people.

8. THE SOCIAL MODEL OF DISABILLITY
 “It is not my impairment that prevents my equal participation in
society; but the barriers that society places in front of me that
prevents my inclusion and therefore disables me”
i.e. steps rather than ramps

9. KEY BARRIERS THAT DISABLE US:
Disabled people have identified twelve basic needs, which if met would enable
them to fully participate in society. SCIL is committed securing these as rights,
both locally and nationally.
1. Full ACCESS to our environment
2. A fully accessible TRANSPORT system
3. TECHNICAL AIDS/EQUIPMENT
4. Accessible / adapted HOUSING
5. PERSONAL ASSISTANCE
6. Inclusive EDUCATION and TRAINING
7. An adequate INCOME
8. Equal opportunities for EMPLOYMENT
9. Appropriate and accessible HEALTH CARE provision
10. Appropriate and accessible INFORMATION
11. ADVOCACY (towards self advocacy)
12. COUNSELLING

10. EMPOWERMENT
• To invest with power, especially legal power
• To equip or supply with an ability
• To enable
 In reality those who wish to be ‘empowered’ have
to take power, rather than waiting to be given
power!

11. INDEPENDENT LIVING:
 Independent Living is part of Disabled People’s Movement to attain
full civil and human rights.

14. INDEPENDENT LIVING PHILOSPHY:
• “Independent Living is not about doing everything
for yourself, it is about having enough support to
lead the life that you choose.”
• That all human life is of value
• That anyone, whatever their impairment, is capable of making
choices [with support if needed]
• That people disabled by society’s reaction to impairment have
the right to control over their lives
• That Disabled People have the right to participate fully in society

15. INDEPENDENT LIVING AND COMMUNITY
CARE:
•Neither Community Care or Direct Payments
equal Independent Living. This is because
they do not address all of the ‘basic needs’ –
in fact no legislation currently does. It merely
pays lip service to it and provides one means
by which disabled people try to access their
human and civil rights.

17. OLD CONCEPTS ABOUT DISABLED:
In most countries preconceived notions and a predominantly
medical view of disability contribute to negative attitudes towards
people with disabilities. Often they are portrayed as sick, defective
and deviant persons, as objects of professional intervention, as a
burden for themselves and their families, dependent on other
people’s charity. These deep-rooted views have consequences for
their opportunities in getting education and work or raising
families of their own. Everywhere, persons with disabilities make
up a large portion of the poor
(Dr. Adolf Ratzka. 2005.)

18. INDEPENDENT LIVING MOVEMENT:
With origins in the US civil rights and consumer movement of
the late 1960s the Independent Living movement replaces the
special education and rehabilitation experts’ concepts of
integration, normalization and rehabilitation with a new
paradigm developed by disabled people themselves. The first
Independent Living ideologists and organizers were people
with extensive disabilities. Today the movement’s message is
still most easily grasped by people whose everyday lives depend
on assistance with the activities of daily living, since they are
most exposed to custodial care, paternalistic attitudes and
control by professionals.
(Dr. Adolf Ratzka. 2005.)

19. INDEPENDENT LIVING PHILOSPHY:
The Independent Living philosophy postulates that disabled
people are the best experts on their needs, must take the
initiative, individually and collectively, in designing and
promoting better solutions and must organize themselves for
political power. Besides de-professionalization and self-
representation, the Independent Living ideology comprises de-
medicalization of disability, de-institutionalization and cross-
disability (i.e. inclusion regardless of diagnoses).
(Dr. Adolf Ratzka. 2005.)

20. WHAT DOES INDEPENDENT LIVING
MEANS:
Independent Living does not mean that we want to do
everything by ourselves or that we do not need anybody or like
to live in isolation. Independent Living means that we demand
the same choices and control in our every-day lives that our
non-disabled brothers and sisters, neighbors and friends take
for granted. We want to grow up in our families, go to the
neighborhood school, use the same bus as our neighbors, work
in jobs that are in line with our education and interests, and
raise families of our own. We are profoundly ordinary people
sharing the same need to feel included, recognized and loved.
(Dr. Adolf Ratzka. 2005.)

21. Contd…
Disabled people need more invested in their
education, housing, job training, transportation,
assistive technology, and independent-living
facilities. Governments earn back this investment -
and more - by making people with disabilities
economically productive citizens.
( Jesse Ventura)

22. MY THOUGHTS: 
 I have a very simple
philosophy. One has to
separate the abilities
from the disabilities. The
fact I cannot walk, that I
need crutches or a scooter
or whatever it is, has
nothing to do with my
playing the violin.
 It's not our disabilities, it's
our abilities that count.

24. SEARCH ENGINES:
www.SouthamptonCIL.co.uk
Info@SouthamptonCIL.co.uk
https://www.independentliving.org/docs7/ratzka20050.
html
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC471174
7/