Rapporteurs: Prof Linda Ward and
Dr Ruth Townsley (University of Bristol)
As a result of
ANED's 2008 work programme, practical support for independent living was
identified as a key topic for review in 2009. Independent living
has been a key concern for the disabled people's movement, alongside concern
about progress in European countries in moving away from institutional care
provision towards effective support for community living. Many of the most
innovative policy models (including personal assistance schemes, personal
budgets, peer support and Centres for Independent Living) have been pioneered
within that movement.
There is a need to
evaluate national policy developments in comparative perspective, to understand
the state-of-the-art, and to learn lessons from good practice. Reviewing more
systematically the country-specific solutions their implementation in
comparative perspective helps us to do this.
Our synthesis
report will outline the general research and policy context but its main purpose will be to review where, and
to what extent, the practice matches up to the independent living philosophy.
