Independent Living Fund Working Group: report and recommendations

Annex B - Options Appraisal Parameters for Opening the ILF to New Users - As Agreed

Parameters

1. The policy advances disabled people's Human Rights and is based on the social model of disability (see definitions below).

2. The purpose of the policy is to support independent living (see definition below).

3. The policy should be person centred and outcomes based.

4. The policy should prioritise support for those with greatest need, as determined by the criteria.

5. The policy has transparent rules of eligibility and the application process is proportionate and easy to access.

6. The new policy enables equity of access within its defined criteria.

7. Awards under the policy are portable across Scotland.

8. The policy is capable of being viewed as making a positive contribution to independent living by disabled people and their carers.

9. The policy complements the existing Scottish policy landscape, for example Self-directed Support, Health-Social Care integration and devolution of welfare powers to the Scottish Parliament.

10. The policy provides additional resource which does not substitute for an existing service provision, care or source of funding.

11. The policy is able to be delivered over the longer term, from the committed funding of £5 million per year.

12. The policy should support independent living for sufficient numbers of disabled people to warrant the existence and administration of a distinct funding scheme.

13. The impact of the policy on supporting disabled people to achieve independent living should be measurable.

14. The policy can be delivered within the existing infrastructure and to the project timescales, and is cost effective to administer.

Definitions

Social Model of Disability

The individual/medical model of disability sees disability as an inevitable consequence of impairment. By contrast, within a social model, disability is seen as the disadvantage that people with impairments experience when they encounter avoidable physical, organisational, institutional or attitudinal barriers to independent living. This is the definition of the social model that will be used for the purposes of the Working Group's considerations.

Independent Living

Independent Living in Scotland ( ILiS) definition

Independent living means all disabled people having the same freedom, choice, dignity and control as other citizens at home, at work and in the community. It does not necessarily 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 ^[2] .

Disability Research on Independent Living & Learning ( DRILL) definition of Independent Living

All disabled people having the same choice, control, dignity and freedom as any other citizen to achieve their goals at home, in education, at work, and as members of the community. This does not necessarily mean disabled people doing things for themselves but it does mean having the right to practical assistance based on their choices and aspirations

15 Rights for Independent Living

For the purposes of the Working Group's considerations, independent living is defined by the '15 Rights for Independent Living' as set out by Glasgow Disability Alliance in its Manifesto for Action: an independent living strategy for Glasgow (2013):

1. A decent income, including state benefits for those unable to work.

2. Accessible and adapted housing.

3. Personal assistance.

4. Accessible and readily available information.

5. Communication support.

6. Advocacy and working towards self advocacy.

7. Technical aids, equipment and technology.

8. Inclusive education and lifelong learning.

9. Equal opportunities for employment and training for work.

10. Accessible and inclusive healthcare provision.

11. Peer support including from disabled people and their organisations.

12. Full access to our environment.

13. Fully accessible and affordable transport.

14. Full social, civic and judicial participation.

15. Legal Rights and legal advice.

UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities ( UNCRPD)

The right to independent living is established in Article 19 of the UNCRPD:

Article 19 - Living independently and being included in the community

States Parties to this Convention recognize the equal right of all persons with disabilities to live in the community, with choices equal to others, and shall take effective and appropriate measures to facilitate full enjoyment by persons with disabilities of this right and their full inclusion and participation in the community, including by ensuring that:

a. Persons with disabilities have the opportunity to choose their place of residence and where and with whom they live on an equal basis with others and are not obliged to live in a particular living arrangement;

b. Persons with disabilities have access to a range of in-home, residential and other community support services, including personal assistance necessary to support living and inclusion in the community, and to prevent isolation or segregation from the community;

c. Community services and facilities for the general population are available on an equal basis to persons with disabilities and are responsive to their needs.