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Inclusive Communities = Stronger Communities
GLOBAL REPORT ON ARTICLE 19: THE RIGHT TO LIVE AND BE INCLUDED IN THE COMMUNITY
and is then eligible for residential care. People with
disabilities cannot choose themselves to belong to
either of these groups. The choice is up to the
independent Agency CIZ who decides on care
eligibility in all cases.” 1
‰ Limited Vision of Options
Photo: Ulrich Eigner
Too often people’s vision and choices become limited
by what is available and by attitudes and beliefs. A
number of the stories we received from self-advocates
talked about wanting to live in group homes because
this was the only option that was offered to
them in the community. In focus groups and
more in-depth discussions, more often than
not, it was revealed that group homes were
the only option other than the family home.
In Jordan and Nepal discussion participants
were seeking group homes as it was the only
model for supporting people to live in the
community that they had ever heard about.
In Mauritius we heard families and selfadvocates
say that living at home was their
only option. They told us they have “no real
choice and nothing else is available.”
‰ Safety and Violence
Sometimes our vision is limited by our fears and
concerns about safety and life in the community. We
heard from families and self-advocates that
“community has no respect for people with
disabilities” and that life in the community can be
difficult and isolating without support. Families
expressed concerns about safety and protection for
their sons and daughters with intellectual disabilities.
Some self-advocates expressed frustration that their
parents won’t allow them to live apart from their
families in the community while others expressed fear
that if something happened to them they would have
no one to help them.