As the independent living movement (ILM) is more of an ideology than a law, it’s essential to consider the basic philosophy behind it. Read on to find out more about the philosophy of the independent living movement.
Equality and ‘The Dream’
The philosophy of the ILM revolves primarily around equality between people with disabilities and non-disabled people. IndependentLiving.org describes it as: “disabled people living on a basis of equality with non-disabled people. Achieving that simple ideal requires complicated changes – dismantling the apparatus of welfare, providing strong legal protection for rights, creating new sorts of support.”
However, it also involves breaking people with disabilities out of the ingrained mindset that they are less than others or less capable than others. Many people with disabilities suffer from self-esteem issues or don’t believe they are useful for anything, which is mainly due to the dominant culture that non-disabled people control. The only way to change this is to change the societal norms on both sides, boosting people with disabilities while also changing the attitudes held by the non-disabled.
The ILM was created by people living with disabilities. This provides us with the cross-disability representation needed to adjust the general public’s attitudes towards people with disabilities and independent living.
Taking opinions into account
Taking the opinions of people living with disabilities into account offers its own kind of independence. Indeed, the ILM originated with people living with disabilities in institutions. Several people discussed how they’d prefer not to live in an institution and how they would like to live independently within the community. These discussions led to massive progress in the Disability Rights Movement (DRM), including the launch of the ILM itself and the first independent living centers (CIL) in the US.
Before the ILM, non-disabled people had been making all the decisions in how people with disabilities were treated and cared for, including how institutions were run. No one was asking the people living in and relying on institutions what they wanted or what worked and what didn’t. Care can only be improved by considering the opinions of those who use it, so it’s always helpful to listen to people with disabilities before making decisions on their behalf. The average non-disabled person does not understand the issues people living with disabilities face, neither can they make informed decisions about care or independent living.
Allowing people with disabilities to express their opinions, ask questions, and generally feel heard is essential to further any efforts in independent living. Including people with disabilities in their care is a vital part of the equality movement and the ILM in general. It also helps boost mental wellbeing for all involved.
The philosophy of the ILM revolves around equality between those with disabilities and those without. It also features the use of people with disabilities in changing attitudes and incorporating the feedback of those people that independent living is designed to help.
Comments