AHandicappedHelpline.org - Independent Living

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Independent Living

Independent Living is a philosophy and a movement of people with disabilities/ handicapped who work for self-determanation, equal opportunities and self- respect.

Independent Living does not mean that we all want to do everything by ourselves and do not need anybody or that we

want to live in isolation.

What it does mean: Independent Living means that we demand the same choices and control in our everyday lives that our non- disabled/ handicapped brothers and sisters, neighbors and friends take for granted. We want to grow up in our families, go to the neighborhood schools, use the same bus as our neighbor work in jobs that are in line with our education and interests, and start families of our own.

Since we are the best experts on our needs, we need to show the solutions we want,

need to be in charge of our lives, think and speak for ourselves - just as everybody else. To this end we must support and learn from each other, organize ourself s and work for political changes that lead to the legal

protection of our human and civil rights.

We are profoundly ordinary people sharing the same need to feel included, recognized and loved.

As long as we regard our disabilities as tragedies,we will be pitied.

As long as we feel ashamed of who we are, our lives will be regarded as useless.

As long as we remain silent, we will be told

by others what to do.

by Adolf Ratzuka 2005