The centrality of impairment in the empowerment of people with severe physical impairments. Independent living and the threat of incarceration: a human right

Abstract

To research what empowerment and independent living meant to physically impaired people with severe impairments, and to consider whether their understanding and interpretation of empowerment equates to the politically generated version of empowerment and independent living as described in the Direct Payments Act 1996. An important element of the research was to consider the issue of impairment in the empowerment of physically impaired people with severe impairments within current social models of disability, i.e. current field of disability studies the need for a social model of impairment. As the research progressed it became evident that the Direct Payments Act was not about empowerment, but rather a process of ‘enablement’ in which the principles of empowerment and independent living espoused by physically impaired people was fundamentally different to the politically‐generated version inherent within the Act itself. The findings revealed that empowerment and independent living transcended the realms of the political rhetoric of ‘enablement’ and was seen as a rights issue in which ‘the right to live in ones own home or accommodation within mainstream society and community without fear of incarceration in a residential institution’ was accorded the status of a fundamental human right.

Notes

∗ 52 Fenton Close, Chester‐Le‐Street, Co. Durham, DH2 3JD, UK. Email: dorset. [email protected]

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Stewart Houston ∗

∗ 52 Fenton Close, Chester‐Le‐Street, Co. Durham, DH2 3JD, UK. Email: dorset. [email protected]