Essentially, it is living just like everyone else - having opportunities to
make decisions that affect one's life, able to pursue activities of one's own
choosing - limited only in the same ways that one's nondisabled neighbors are
limited.
Independent living should not be defined in terms of living on one's own, being
employed in a job fitting one's capabilities and interests, or having an active
social life. These are aspects of living independently. Independent living has
to do with self-determination. It is having the right and the opportunity to
pursue a course of action. And, it is having the freedom to fail - and to learn
from one's failures, just as nondisabled people do.
There are, of course, individuals who have certain mental impairments which may
affect their abilities to make complicated decisions or pursue complex
activities. For these individuals, Independent Living means having every
opportunity to be as self-sufficient as possible.
Independent living. It isn't easy, and it can be risky. But millions of people
with disabilities rate it higher than a life of dependency and narrow
opportunities and unfulfilled expectations.
Fortunately, people with disabilities don't have to do it all on their own.
The purpose of this brochure is to describe a kind of service organization which
is designed specifically to assist people with disabilities who themselves have
been successful in establishing independent lives. These people have both
training and the personal experience to know exactly what is needed to live
independently. And, they have deep commitment to assisting other disabled people
in becoming more independent.
Services of Independent Living centers
Centers offer a wide variety of services. Four are essential to efforts of
people with disabilities to live independently, including:
There are many different types of organizations which serve people with
disabilities - state vocational rehabilitation agencies, group homes,
rehabilitation hospitals, sheltered workshops, nursing homes, senior centers,
home health care agencies and so forth. These organizations provide valuable
services and are important links in the network of services that help people
with disabilities maintain independent lifestyles.
What makes Independent Living centers very different from these other
organizations is that centers have substantial involvement of people with
disabilities making policy decisions and delivering services. Why this emphasis
on control by people with disabilities? The basic idea behind Independent Living
is that the ones who know best what services people with disabilities need in
order to live independently are disabled people themselves.
Changes that make life more satisfying don't occur overnight. But, for people
who are willing to work toward greater independence, Independent Living centers
can help put the pieces together.
Source:
ILRU at Texas Institute for Rehabilitation,
2323 S. Shepherd, Suite 1000, Houston, TX 77019, United States.