Moving from Independence to Interdependence: A Conceptual Model for Better Understanding Community Participation of Centers for Independent Living Consumers

Abstract

This article provides a brief historical review of disability and personal and environmental limitations to community participation. Attention is given to policies that have limited consumer choice and to the pushback from disability rights advocates. These advocates eventually started the independent living movement as a reaction to the medical model that identifies disability as a personal defect rather than an environmental limitation. The authors discuss the basic philosophy and core services of independent living, and they present a conceptual model for helping centers for independent living (CIL) consumers more fully participate in the community. This model describes a continuum from independence to interdependence approaches to providing CIL services. Finally, the authors describe current research to determine the effectiveness of these two approaches to increasing consumer community participation.

A Little Goes a Long Way: The Impact of Distal Social Support on Community Integration and Recovery of Individuals with Psychiatric Disabilities

“…The Importance of Social Support to Community Integration In the twenty-first century, the ideal of individuals with disabilities being fully engaged in their communities remains an unrealized goal (Kloos 2010;Partington 2005). There are various reasons for this, perhaps the primary one being that individuals with disabilities have fewer opportunities to engage in their communities (White et al 2010). Unaffordable or inaccessible housing, limited opportunities for employment, and lack of transportation severely limit involvement of individuals with disabilities.…”

The March Goes On: Community Access for People With Disabilities

“…People with disabilities experience disparities in multiple domains including employment, assets, education, health, technology, and political participation (Katz & DeRose, ; Soffer, McDonald, & Blanck, ; Schur & Adya, ; Schur, Kruse, & Blanck, ). People with disabilities feel isolated from their communities and experience poor health (White, Simpson, Gonda, Ravesloot, & Cable, ; Sherwin, ; National Organization on Disability, ; Partington, ; Taylor, ).…”

Re‐Envisioning Independence and Community: Critiques from the Independent Living Movement and L'Arche

“…These authors argue that the Independent Living Movement should move from a conceptual model that praises independence to a model that applauds “interdependence,” maintaining that Centers for Independent Living should help persons with disabilities participate more actively in the community by meeting the social capital needs of consumers: “The independence model suggests that if basic IL core services are met, consumers will naturally participate in their communities. … Although this model can lead to improved community participation for some consumers, it can fall short for others … [who] may live an isolated … existence” (White et al , 237). CILs ought to undertake as part of their mission to educate consumers about community participation, as well as about independent living.…”