TY - JOUR
T1 - Independent Living in Europe and Beyond
T2 - Past, Present, and Future (Special Issue Editorial)
AU - Mladenov, Teo
AU - Bulic Cojocariu, Ines
AU - Angelova-Mladenova, Lilia
AU - Kokic, Natasa
AU - Goungor, Kamil
PY - 2023/4/21
Y1 - 2023/4/21
N2 - This article introduces this special issue of the International Journal of Disability and Social Justice focusing on Independent Living, understood both as a social movement and an analytic paradigm. The aim of the special issue is to mark the 50th anniversary of the first Centre for Independent Living, as well as the tenth occurrence of the Freedom Drive, a biennial advocacy event organised by the European Network on Independent Living (ENIL). We first explain the significance of these two initiatives, tracing their history and rationale in terms of disabled people’s struggle for self-determination. We then discuss the meaning of Independent Living and associated definitional struggles. In the main part of the article, we explore the relations between Independent Living and the state, the market, and the family. This helps us to understand Independent Living as critique of professional power, self-sufficiency, and parental authority. The practical implications of these critiques are explored by looking at current struggles for deinstitutionalisation and personal assistance. We conclude by presenting the pillars of Independent Living and their consideration in the contributions to this special issue.
AB - This article introduces this special issue of the International Journal of Disability and Social Justice focusing on Independent Living, understood both as a social movement and an analytic paradigm. The aim of the special issue is to mark the 50th anniversary of the first Centre for Independent Living, as well as the tenth occurrence of the Freedom Drive, a biennial advocacy event organised by the European Network on Independent Living (ENIL). We first explain the significance of these two initiatives, tracing their history and rationale in terms of disabled people’s struggle for self-determination. We then discuss the meaning of Independent Living and associated definitional struggles. In the main part of the article, we explore the relations between Independent Living and the state, the market, and the family. This helps us to understand Independent Living as critique of professional power, self-sufficiency, and parental authority. The practical implications of these critiques are explored by looking at current struggles for deinstitutionalisation and personal assistance. We conclude by presenting the pillars of Independent Living and their consideration in the contributions to this special issue.
KW - disability studies
KW - social policy
KW - independent living
KW - self-determination
KW - social movements
KW - professionals
KW - neoliberalism
KW - parents
KW - familialism
KW - UN CRPD
UR - https://www.scienceopen.com/hosted-document?doi=10.13169/intljofdissocjus.3.1.0004
U2 - 10.13169/intljofdissocjus
DO - 10.13169/intljofdissocjus
M3 - Article
SN - 2732-4044
VL - 3
SP - 4
EP - 23
JO - International Journal of Disability and Social Justice
JF - International Journal of Disability and Social Justice
IS - 1
ER -