Key ideas (1)

The concept of Independent Living has been developed by the disabled people's movement over the past 40 years and is based on four main ideas:

• that all human life is of equal value

• that everyone, whatever their impairment, is capable of making informed choices about their life

• that disabled people have the right to be in control of all aspects of their lives, in the same way that non-disabled people are

• that disabled people have the right to be fully included as active participants in society on an equal basis with non-disabled people.

Independent Living does not mean that as disabled people we should have to live in isolation, do everything for ourselves or be completely independent of services. For instance, some of us may need support to enable us to live independently. Others may choose to live in residential accommodation, although they should always have the option to move out at any time. Some disabled people prefer to use 'inclusive' or 'integrated' living to describe the kind of lifestyle they aspire to.

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