Philosophy

What is independent living? In essence, is a philosophy, a way of looking at disability and society, and a worldwide movement of people with disabilities who proclaim to work for self-determination, self-respect, and equal opportunities.

Living independently is a combination of freedom, responsibilities, opportunities, and knowledge that allow the disabled American to raise a family of their own, expand their education, work in a job that fits their abilities and interests, and having an active social life. Independent living has to do with self-determination. It is having the right and the opportunity to pursue a course of action and, it is having the freedom to fail, and to learn from one’s failures, just as non-disabled people do.

In the late 1960s and early 1970s, this idea led people with disabilities from around the country to take active roles on local, state and national levels in shaping decisions on issues affecting their lives. A major part of these activities involved formation of community based groups of people with different types of disabilities who joined together to identify barriers and gaps in service delivery. To address barriers, action plans were developed to educate the community and to influence policy makers at all levels to change regulations and to introduce barrier removing legislation. To address gaps in services, a new method of service delivery was conceived — one which has people with disabilities determining kinds of services essential to living independently, has people with disabilities directing the delivery of the services, and has people with disabilities actually providing these services.

The earliest center was formed in 1972 in Berkeley, California, soon followed that same year by centers in Boston and Houston. In 1978, following effective advocacy by people with disabilities and their supporters all over the country, federal legislation was passed that provided funding to establish independent living centers (Title VII of the Rehabilitation Act). Today, there are centers in virtually every state and U S. territory.