Independent Living

Independent living works towards all disabled people having the same choice, control and freedom as any other citizen

Independent living

The Prime Minister's Strategy Unit report Improving the Life Chances of Disabled People identified several key areas where action was needed in order to deliver the vision for equality for disabled people by 2025.

These included early years and family support, transition to adulthood, employment, and independent living.

What is independent living?

Independent living is about disabled people having choice and control over the support they need to go about their daily lives.

The Disability Rights Commission defined independent living as:

"all disabled people having the same choice, control and freedom as any other citizen - at home, at work, and as members of the community. This does not necessarily mean disabled people 'doing everything for themselves', but it does mean that any practical assistance people need should be based on their own choices and aspirations."
(Disability Rights Commission (2002) policy statement on social care and independent living).

The Independent Living Review

The Independent Living Review was launched in July 2006 to identify imaginative and practical solutions to support independent living for disabled people. Read about how the Independent Living Team carried out the review.

The Independent Living Strategy

The Independent Living Strategy, published in March 2008, sets out Government commitments to improve the life chances of disabled people needing support. The Independent Living Scrutiny Group published its first annual report in December 2009. Find out more about the Independent Living Strategy.

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