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Many people believe that independence is about doing everything
for yourself, and therefore as disabled people often need assistance
in their everyday life, they cannot be independent.
Disabled people challenge this assumption. We say that independence
is not about doing everything for yourself, no-one lives in isolation
from the rest of the world, we all depend on each other, this is
why we all live as a society.
It is this fundamental understanding that gave birth to the independent
living movement. Choice and control are two of the most important
factors denied to many disabled people. Disabled people refuse to
accept that non-disabled people have the right to deny them choice
and control over their own lives.
Having the finance, and support to enable disabled people to employ
their own assistants to assist them with their everyday lives is
a good way of facilitating independence. By employing their own
staff, disabled people can control how the assistance they need
is provided, allowing them to lead the lifestyle of their choice.
The concept of Direct Payments was ‘invented’ by disabled people
to facilitate control of the assistance they require and therefore
facilitate Independent Living.
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