Global-Report-Living-Colour-dr2-2

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Inclusive Communities = Stronger Communities GLOBAL REPORT ON ARTICLE 19: THE RIGHT TO LIVE AND BE INCLUDED IN THE COMMUNITY 45 In some regions of the world the question and the idea was difficult for both self-advocates and families to define. Self-advocates who live at home and receive little or no support often could not imagine alternatives and families feared for the safety of their family member in poor and violent communities. In many countries living away from one’s family is not the norm. For those families imagining and developing supports and services to help the family is the challenge. For others the limited options available for housing, poor access to education, employment and transportation and the denial of the right to exercise choice made the question of what inclusion in the community might look like especially difficult. Yet despite the challenges of imagining real inclusion, self-advocates in every region expressed clearly what inclusion should look like from their perspective. Self-Advocates Have A Clear Vision Self-advocates told us very clearly that living independently and being included in the community means being able to make decisions for themselves: choosing where and with whom they live, deciding when and what they eat and how they spend their days. They may need help and assistance with shopping, with finances and with day to day tasks. For some more significant supports such as assistance with communicating and eating are needed. They may want to have that assistance from their family but there are times that they need other people in their lives to help with these things. In the receipt of support and assistance they want choice and control in from who and how that support is provided. Most of all self-advocates described how inclusion meant having friends, going to school, having a job, participating and being accepted and respected in the community. One self-advocate commented that living in the community meant “realizing our dreams”. Another said “you only know that you are In Swaziland they told us inclusion means: • Freedom of speech and being free to live anywhere one wants • Having employment like other people who do not have disability • Being included in community activities • Being helped to have fulfilled future • Being respected and honoured • Being heard and listened to • Having self esteem From the stories in Barcelona “Living alone means: more freedom, not rely on what anyone else says. What I like is that after work and get home I can relax and be calm. Visit family whenever I want. For me it means I can do whatever I want without been controlled. By having less control I have more freedom.” “Independent Living means having obligations. Before I came home and everything was done, now I have to do everything myself. If I do not do the things, no one will do them for me and if I do not do them well will be my responsibility. For example, with the money, now I know the value of things what they are worth, I know I have to make ends meet, I have to organize myself to pay all expenses. I know that not everyone has the opportunity to live alone and I am very lucky to be able to choose where to live. Living in an institution is not independent ever.”
46 Inclusive Communities = Stronger Communities GLOBAL REPORT ON ARTICLE 19: THE RIGHT TO LIVE AND BE INCLUDED IN THE COMMUNITY Self-advocates in Spain told us: Community living is ... • a personal challenge and an opportunity to grow and perform • access to independent living and adult life • about quality of life and personal satisfactions • encouraging more social presence • being treated with respect and dignity We need ... • the labour market to open for us as the gateway to live in the community. Disabled people live in very vulnerable economic situation that limit their ability to work. • personal support services to ensure safety and wellbeing to those of us who live independently and our families. • the development of public housing initiatives • to broaden our very limited social environments. Our families, professionals and other people with disability remain our main and only connections respected when you live in the community.” Selfadvocates know what it means to be excluded and they also defined inclusion. In Kenya self-advocates said, “Inclusion is to do what other people do.” In Nicaragua self-advocates said, “(Community) is the grouping of people who live and communicate with each other, whether they have a disability or not.” A focus group in Hong Kong told us: Living in the Community meant ... • To have the key • To have total freedom • Free to shop whatever I like • Have choices in what I want to eat • Free to choose how to spend my leisure • Free to choose where to hang around • To be with my parents • Be able to do all the house work • Free to date my girl friend • Able to plan my schedule • Free to meet friends • Being an adult • Being independent. • Free to enjoy life • Free to enjoy the cultural performance until the show ends. • To have privacy • Have more personal space • Need support to guide me in daily living, to get a job or even my dating and marriage • I need to pay rent and organize my activities • I need to find social workers to guide me to all the housework and manage my finance • Best to have a helper to do the housework • Be with my family
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