Gone local…or missing in action?

Pam Duncan

Policy Officer, ILiS    

Coming up…• Independent living and

human rights– History, legal and policy context

• From rights to reality– Some stats/examples– Subsidiarity & asymmetry

• Going local – Coproduction– Human rights

History…

It’s ourworld tooAbout Scotland’s disabled people’s Independent Living Movement

• Disabled people frustrated with lack of choice and control

• Independent Living Movement develops in America the 60’s

• Independent Living Movement live and kicking in Scotland!

Independent Living means:

“disabled people of all ages having the same freedom, choice, dignity and control as other

citizens at home, at work, and in the community. It does not mean living by

yourself, or fending for yourself. It means rights to practical assistance and support to participate in society and live an ordinary

life”.

The role independent living plays in protecting the human

rights of disabled people is recognised and underpinned

by international human rights and equalities obligations to

which the UK and Scotland are party to

 

Independent living and human rights – the Law• National:

– The Scotland Act (1998)– The Human Rights Act (1998)– Disabled Persons (Services,

Consultation and Representatives) Act 1986

– Equality Act 2010– Social Care (Self-directed Support)

Act (2013)• International

– European Convention on Human Rights

– United Nations Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities (UNCRPD)

The vision for independent living in Scotland

The reality: Inequality across many of the national outcomes

•47.5% of families with disabled people in them, live in poverty

•disabled people = 6% of formal volunteers and around 4.3% of public appointments vs. 20% of non disabled people

•74% of disabled adults experience restrictions in using transport vs. 58% of non-disabled adults

•39% of disabled people vs. 92% of non-disabled people, say they are in good health

•Disabled people are almost twice as likely to be NEET •46.9% of disabled adults in work vs. 71% non-disabled adults

•People who have experienced homelessness are more likely to be disabled

Independent living needs social change

Nothing about us without us

The reality: influencing change• Subsidiarity – what is ‘close’ to the people?

– Disabled people are seldom heard• Asymmetry – avoid a ‘one-size-fits-all’ vs illegitimate

variation – Variation in how rights are applied– Disabled people’s rights are the responsibility of

everyone

Going local? Coproduction Whichever way – and wherever we make them – decisions must

be coproduced

•Doing it together will get better results•We’ve all done it – bet we can get better!•‘All Together Better’ toolkit and case studies

Participation: Well resourced & organized DPOsAccountability: National, legally enforceable, frameworks with standards that promote & protect equality and human rightsNon-discrimination: practical assistance & support for independent living is not discretionaryEmpowerment: Coproduction & participationLegality: practical assistance & support for independent living is not discretionary

Going local? Embed human rights

Visit www.ilis.co.uk to find out more about

•Independent living •Equality legislation•Human Rights and UNCRPD •Coproduction

Find out more