Understanding the complex negotiations in fulfilling the right to independent living for disabled people

Abstract

The independent living agenda has become dominated by a rights focus that has helped drive national-level shifts in setting norms and changing mind-sets. This paper is concerned with examining how rights are utilised by service providers in the process of facilitating independent living. Drawing on an empirical study of providers in Ireland, the paper identifies the strategies being used to put rights into practice. The findings show that in the process of creating a well-managed support arrangement for each individual, providers often take a delicate approach to using rights, and sometimes dilute their guiding principles when engaging in ongoing complex negotiations between individuals, families, staff and volunteers. The disabled people's movement can contribute to the shared learning required in enabling managers handle this process better, rather than solely rely on an abstract call for rights.

Keywords:

• independent living
• rights
• service provision
• barrier
• support
• institution

Notes

1. Additional fieldwork involving research in the United Kingdom, the United States, and Canada was also carried out. However, given the theme of the paper, the interpretation and presentation of findings is focused on service providers’ experiences of arranging support and thus derives primarily from interviews with service managers in Ireland.

2. In Ireland, the commissioning of services is through the Health Service Executive areas. These fulfil a similar role to local authorities with social service responsibilities in the United Kingdom.