#independentlivingalternatives – empowering disabled people
By
Denise Nanni and Milena Rampoldi, ProMosaik. In the following, another
interview about disabled people and how to empower them. We spoke to Tracey Jannaway,
Director of Independent Living Alternatives,
an initiative promoting independent living since 1989 and working in London. What
disabled people want, is empowerment, control over their lives, and this should
be considered when we help them. Independent life of disabled people should be
our final aim. It is a long struggle, but it is worth it. And this is only
possible if we promote a tolerant society who does not discriminate people with disabilities.
Denise Nanni and Milena Rampoldi, ProMosaik. In the following, another
interview about disabled people and how to empower them. We spoke to Tracey Jannaway,
Director of Independent Living Alternatives,
an initiative promoting independent living since 1989 and working in London. What
disabled people want, is empowerment, control over their lives, and this should
be considered when we help them. Independent life of disabled people should be
our final aim. It is a long struggle, but it is worth it. And this is only
possible if we promote a tolerant society who does not discriminate people with disabilities.
What are the main (social, institutional
and practical) difficulties people with
disabilities face nowadays?
and practical) difficulties people with
disabilities face nowadays?
Attitudes from society are still poor;
perceptions of disability as negative and people searching for a cure or to
eradicate disability; financial aspects in these current times of austerity
people worry about funding from the government for income and for care. People
are also risk adverse worrying that it might be dangerous for the disabled
person or that society must “look after” disabled people but have a
misperception of what a person wants. IE you need to risk assess going on
holiday because you are disabled or I need to check that you are OK because you
are disability. The general perception is that disabled people are always vulnerable. However, if they are given the right support disabled people are active and equal members
of society.
perceptions of disability as negative and people searching for a cure or to
eradicate disability; financial aspects in these current times of austerity
people worry about funding from the government for income and for care. People
are also risk adverse worrying that it might be dangerous for the disabled
person or that society must “look after” disabled people but have a
misperception of what a person wants. IE you need to risk assess going on
holiday because you are disabled or I need to check that you are OK because you
are disability. The general perception is that disabled people are always vulnerable. However, if they are given the right support disabled people are active and equal members
of society.
What are the most common ways through
which you help people with disabilities in order to empower them?
which you help people with disabilities in order to empower them?
ILA provides user controlled personal
assistance placing the disabled person in control of the services that they
need in order to live independently. This enables people to self-determine
their own lives, to do what they want, when they want to do it.
assistance placing the disabled person in control of the services that they
need in order to live independently. This enables people to self-determine
their own lives, to do what they want, when they want to do it.
What are the practices that you found to
be more effective into the process of empowerment?
be more effective into the process of empowerment?
Enabling people to have direct control
over every aspect of their lives and enabling people to make life choices and
mistakes in order to work out what they want.
over every aspect of their lives and enabling people to make life choices and
mistakes in order to work out what they want.
I saw that in your site there is a
volunteering program. Would you like to explain how it works?
volunteering program. Would you like to explain how it works?
The volunteering programme is an
opportunity primarily for people from overseas to work with disabled people in
London to understand and explore disability issues in the UK. Volunteers
receive pocket money and accommodation in return for working for a disabled
person for 6 months to one year.
opportunity primarily for people from overseas to work with disabled people in
London to understand and explore disability issues in the UK. Volunteers
receive pocket money and accommodation in return for working for a disabled
person for 6 months to one year.
Do you cooperate with the public sector? Do
you think that public institutions should do more in this field? If yes do you
have any suggestion for institutions/policy makers?
you think that public institutions should do more in this field? If yes do you
have any suggestion for institutions/policy makers?
ILA works with the public sector to
identify people who may want a user controlled service and we work to promote
the concept of user autonomy and the rights of disabled people to live
independently. It is difficult to make changes when people are very risk
adverse and ILA’s role is to endeavour to change society’s perception and also
to empower the disabled people who want to manage their own personal
assistance.
identify people who may want a user controlled service and we work to promote
the concept of user autonomy and the rights of disabled people to live
independently. It is difficult to make changes when people are very risk
adverse and ILA’s role is to endeavour to change society’s perception and also
to empower the disabled people who want to manage their own personal
assistance.
