A European focus on independent living

Disabled people have increasingly advocated independent living solutions at the European-level. For example, the European Network on Independent Living (ENIL) will host a conference on the UN Convention and independent living in September 2009. ENIL also plays a leading role in the European Coalition for Community Living, which was established in 2005 ‘to work towards the social inclusion of people with disabilities by promoting the provision of comprehensive, quality community-based services as an alternative to institutionalisation'.

Some specific aspects of social services relevant to disabled people have been the focus of attention of the EU's Disability High Level Group and are reflected upon in a paper on the quality of social services for disabled people. However, relatively little attention has been paid to support for independent living in the Social Services of General Interest agenda. The First Biennial Report on Social Services of General Interest raises some concerns that disabled people are still being considered almost exclusively within a discourse of ‘care' and ‘dependency' in this process (when national policies are moving in the direction of greater self-determination and active consumption of support services). There is, for example, no reference at all to personal assistance or direct payments.

There have been various published research studies, case studies and critical analyses on the theory and practical implementation of independent living in European countries (although much more so in some countries than in others and in general few comprehensive accounts). In some countries there is little or no published evidence about support for independent living. There are a small number of European comparative studies that address some relevant issues but which do not necessarily provide a focused overview of independent living. These include, for example: the 2004 Included in Society report on the situation of disabled people in institutional care; the 2007 comparative study on the outcomes and costs of deinstitutionalisation and community living; and, the study on the specific risks of discrimination against persons in situation of major dependence or with complex needs.

In December 2009, the Commission's annual European Day of Persons with Disabilities conference also focused on ‘Creating Conditions for Independent Living. Based on the research carried out by ANED in the fields of employment, social inclusion and support for independent living, the ANED Scientific Director made a plenary presentation of key points on creating the conditions for independent living.