Independent Living is a philosophy and a movement of people with disabilities who work for self-determination, equal opportunities and self-respect. Independent Living does not mean that we want to do everything by ourselves and do not need anybody or that we want to live in isolation. Independent Living means that we demand the same choices and control in our every-day lives that our non-disabled brothers and sisters, neighbors and friends take for granted. We want to grow up in our families, go to the neighborhood school, use the same bus as our neighbors, work in jobs that are in line with our education and interests, and start families of our own.
The IL movement started in the early 1970s from California, USA and has spread all over the world. Last December of 2007, the Global IL Network was formally created to strengthen the IL movement worldwide.
This international movement which aims to bring self choice, self responsibility and self determination to all persons with disabilities already has established a strong foothold in the Asia-Pacific region. We can see growth of IL in Asia with increasing number of IL centers: 3 IL centers in Malaysia, 1 in Nepal, 9 in Pakistan, 3 in Philippines, 80 in South Korea, 1 in Taiwan, and 7 in Thailand have been established since 2000.
The Philippine Council on Independent Living (PCIL) is part of the Asia-Pacific Network for Independent Living Centers (APNIL) Activities of APNIL include publication of activity information through website (http://www.apnil.org), monthly internet meeting, and support for implementation of IL related services such as peer-counseling, independent living program and personal assistance service.
Life Haven Inc., an organization of PWDs working with and for PWDs is one of the frontrunners of the IL movement in the Philippines along with the other members (SCIF, HACI-Cebu, HACI- Cagayan de Oro) of the Philippine Council on Independent Living (PCIL). Since 2004, many Filipinos with disabilities have received training from Human Care Association (HCA) of Japan and Asia Pacific Development Center on Disability (APCD) located in Bangkok, Thailand
2007 was a very successful year for the Independent Living movement in the Philippines. Life Haven Inc., in partnership with Spinal Cord Injury Foundation, held several seminar workshops to introduce IL peer counseling to persons with disabilities. . The first workshop which was attended mostly by persons with disabilities from Tahanang Walang Hagdanan was conducted last May of 2007. Another workshop which was funded by Toyota Foundation of Japan was held last September of 2007 at Philippine Orthopedic Center participated by those who are about to be discharged to help in their reintegration to the society.
The latest workshop funded by the Department of Health thru the National Anti-Poverty Commission for Persons with Disability was held last January of 2008. Participants came from the provinces of Nueva Ecija, Laguna, Batangas and Rizal. It is significant to mention here the participation of several leaders recognized on the national level.
Presently, there are no services yet in the community to support persons with disabilities to live independently. It is important to develop human resources in the community first and encourage them to organize themselves as a self-help group before they can realize their potentials as member of the community. For this reason, there is a need for IL peer counseling seminar workshop to be organized as the first step necessary towards the realization of this goal.
IL peer counseling seminar workshop is the venue for participants to learn the concept of Independent Living. The aims are to teach the methods and techniques used in peer counseling and to develop potential peer counselors from the community to provide support to their peers. The purpose of peer counseling is to restore the self-confidence of persons with disabilities which will lead to rebuilding of human relationship to ultimately change the attitude of the society. Peer counselors are key components when establishing IL centers. Present thinkers dangle the progressive notion that persons with disabilities, Irregardless of the severity of their disability can be proactive if given equal chance and opportunity.
Independent Living movement encourages the participation of the most severely disabled person in the community. Their participation in community activities encourages not only other persons with disabilities but the community in general and corrects the misconception and inappropriate attitude towards disability and to persons affected by it.
No comments:
Post a Comment