Go
Independent Living
The Fresh Voice of Disabled People in Merton
|
Independent Living "means
that disabled people have access Baronnes Cambell, Chair of The Independent Living Review, cited in ODI Review 2007 |
Go Forums Proposal for a Centre for Independent Living in Merton
“Centres
for Independent Living are grassroots organisations run and controlled by
disabled people.
Their aims are to assist disabled people take control over their lives and
achieve full participation in society“
(Source: Life Chances 2005)
Context
This document sets out Go Forums proposal to develop a purpose built centre
for independent living in Merton. The aim of this document is to articulate
our intentions. There is much work to be done in developing the detail which
will follow as others become involved and begin to shape this development
and this is a discussion document setting out some underlying principles to
our proposal.
Background
Since the emergence of the disability movement in Great Britain, independence
has been a critical issue that disabled people have fought for the right to
have. The Community Care (Direct Payments) act 1976 further supported this
notion of independent living by providing the opportunity for disabled people
to receive direct payments in order to have control over the personal support
which they received in order to live independently.
Direct Payments and in particular the employment of a Personal Assistant (PA) has changed the way in which disabled people can take control over what is important to them in their lives. This has also created a need to support this process as large numbers of disabled people are not benefiting from having this choice and control over their own lives.
Independent living is a broad statement of value and is underpinned by a number of complex issues for example housing, managing your own personal support, choices and control, Finance and most importantly a holistic approach to life which incorporates our culture, living, working and social needs.
In order to support ourselves through these many complex issues disabled people have collectively sought their own solutions and one element of this support has been the development of centres for independent living, managed and run by disabled people themselves working independently and collaboratively with external agencies to seek solutions and provide services to support disabled people in the locality to live independently.
Current
Situation
London Borough of Merton - are currently reviewing parts of their social services
for disabled people in Merton and there has been some discussion about a Centre
for Independent living also with the Direct Payments department at it’s
user forum, which has been raised as a result of the governments current strategy
to introduce these centres across the country. It is important to articulate
that centres for Independent Living have emerged as a development by disabled
people for disabled people and that the government recognises
“Disabled
people should be at the heart of these initiatives. One of the key ingredients
for developing this new approach should be the direct involvement of disabled
people, primarily through local Centres for Independent Living”
(Life Chances, 2005).
Go Forum - have included a statement proposing a Centre for Independent Living as part of Merton’s Local Development Framework consultation of 2007. As it was viewed important that these developments considered disabled people in our community’s future
Improving the Life Chances of Disabled People (2005) - has become a key government strategy document which has multi departmental agreement for implementation, recommends a
“User-led
organisations by 2010, each locality (defined as that area covered by a Council
with social services responsibilities) should have a user-led organisation
modelled on existing Centre for Independent Living”
(P;91, rec 4:3).
It is our intention to work with the London Borough of Merton and all other relevant organisations to implement this recommendation and to develop a centre for Independent living in Merton.
What
is a Centre for Independent Living?
There are a number of principles which underpin a Centre for Independent Living.
It can be seen as a resource which responds to local needs of disabled people
and seeks creative solutions which help to meet the aims of having control
over our own lives and achieving full participation in society.
This resource is physical in the sense of a building but essentially it is a human resource with people who have a variety of skills and experience which can be used to support disabled people live independently.
In order to fully participate in society it is important that Centre for Independent Living’s also support inclusion by working collaboratively and positively with non-disabled allies and all sections of the community
Some
values and beliefs which may underpinned a centre for Independent living are:
• Social model of disability
• Democratic and Empowers those involved
• Providing choices and options
• Has adequate funding, infrastructure and sustainability
• environmentally responsible
• intent on learning and developing people
• Independent & Responsive
• Endeavours to be free from historical jargon and boxes!
There are currently 22 Centre’s For Independent Living's and another 15 local disability organisations nationwide providing a similar role or working towards becoming a Centre For Independent Living (Source: Life Chances, 2005).
They provide a wide range of functions in terms of services, learning and also research and development. Broadly speaking for most Centres for Independent Living their main activity, and source of income, is running support schemes to enable disabled people to use Direct Payments. Centres for Independent Living may involve:
•
Advice and information;
• Advocacy and peer support;
• Assistance with recruiting and employing Personal Assistants (PAs);
• A payroll service;
• A register of PAs; and
• Training of PAs.
Centres
For Independent Living also:
• run projects encouraging take up of direct payments amongst marginalised
groups;
• provide disability equality training;
• carry out consumer audits of services.
(ibid: p85, 2005)
This list should not be seen as the only thing that a Centre for Independent Living does as there are a number of other community developments that a Centre for Independent Living could also help to benefit for example projects which encourage social inclusion (Buddying and mentoring schemes) and creative solutions through the arts and media.
It is critical that a Centre for Independent Living is not prescriptive in and not only seen as providing services but that it is creative and flexible in responding to disabled people and in doing so that it empowers individuals to identify their own solutions by coming together to share experiences and learning.
There are also many new initiatives like Individualised Budgets which requires that a Centre for Independent Living is forward thinking and considers new approaches. However it must also maintaining its independence so that it reflects the aspirations of its Disabled People and will lobby and campaign to ensure that initiatives and services reflect what disabled people actually want. There are clear opportunities for learning programmes and social enterprises that can be developed.
We wish to see in Merton an exciting, vibrant, active, supportive and inclusive environment in which disabled people feel a sense of ownership and belonging and are able to work collaboratively between disabled and non-disabled people across a variety of impairment, cultures, orientations and ages to ensure that disabled people in Merton have control over their own lives and are able to fully participate in our local and wider community.
What’s Next
• In short, get as much support and input as possible from the local community for this proposal.
• We need to get organised! - Organisations of disabled people and individuals in Merton need to come together in order to provide a representative voice in Merton to discuss these proposals so that a centre of independent living can reflect not only the needs but also the aspirations of disabled people in Merton to have control over their own lives and to fully participate in society.
• This document needs to be put into a variety of accessible formats.
• Wider Consultation and feasibility with a number of organisations and stakeholders and London Borough of Merton to identify an agreement and strategy for the proposals.
• Funding is obviously a critical factor so that a Centre for Independent
Living is properly developed with adequate resources and infrastructure for
sustainability. A wide range of funding needs to be sort from local and national
government, but there will also be opportunity for business sponsorship and
investment as well as possible grants. Schemes and services that bring income
in are also key, but initially will be small & limited.
o The Life Chances document identifies In July 2002, The National Centre for
Independent Living and the Association of Directors of Social Services (ADSS)
signed a protocol setting out arrangements for local contracting of independent
living services and stating that “the ADSS is committed to promoting
independent living for disabled people and to supporting the development of
Centres for Independent Living.”
o The case should be explored for additional resources to be bid for from Spending Review 2006 to facilitate the development of a national network of user-led organisations and to support high quality services.
• Investigate a Purpose built Centre for Independent Living to be in
existence by 2010.
• Publicise the proposal so people know about it locally and nationally
• An Evaluative Framework needs to be set up so that we can measure our effectiveness and achievements
“Local organisations, run and controlled by disabled people, will be
a vital part of the implementation of a new approach to supporting independent
living”. (Life Chances, 2005)
Author: John Kelly
On behalf of Go Form
16 August 2007
Solidarity, Participation and Equality in Merton for Disabled People.