Welcome
Independent living does not mean doing everything without assistance, rather it is being in control of how things are done whether or not one uses or employs the services of others.
People with disabilities need to:
- Be in control and take charge of how things are done i.e. -
- self-direction - control over choices, options, and decision making and when people choose to get assistance.
- how much control people have over their environment, not the number of tasks they can do without assistance. [Independence is not necessarily the quality of tasks on can perform without assistance, but is the quality of life one can live with assistance - assistance not given in the context of duty and charity, but in the framework of a service under the direct control of the person receiving the service......Ann Arbor Center for Independent Living].
- right to take risks and the right to fail.
- Be responsible for managing significant issues in their lives including:
- managing one's own affairs
- participating in day to day community life
- fulfilling a range of social roles.
- Be informed consumers of health care,
- Be co-managers of their health care,
- Ask relevant questions of their health care providers.
The web site has evolved over the years and these organizations
have in part contributed to its continued development.
at Western University
of Health Sciences, Pomona, California
IL NET -- ILRU/NCIL
National
Training and Technical Assistance Project
Rehabilitation Research and
Training Center on Aging with a Disability
Research and Training Center on
Managed
Care and Disability
