Three major themes emerged as critical as we move from the 1980s into the 1990s: the importance of living in one's "own home"; the context of the broader community in people's lives' and the extension of the independent living movement's concept of personal assistance to people with severe developmental disabilities. In the words of Gunnar Dybwad, "Any of these concepts fully applied will challenge the service system as it today exists."
All people, regardless of severity of disability, can live in their own home in the community. People should have choice about where and with whom they live, control over their environment and how they spend their time.
One central and guiding concept in the 1990s should be that of "one's own home." While in the 1980s, we moved from "homelike" environments to "homes," the next decade should challenge us to examine the essence of what it means to be in "one's own home." A small, but important part of this movement should be the extension of home-ownership strategies to people with disabilities. Wherever people choose to live, support services should be available. No longer should home mean an "agency facility," but a place that represents the unique choices of the individual.
The statement should include a comment to community leaders... about inclusiveness and celebrating gifts and capacities of people with disabilities as community members.
As we move into the 1990s, our focus should shift from people "being in the community to being part of the community." The importance of relationships, the interaction between formal and informal supports and services, the roles of ordinary citizens in the lives of people with disabilities, and the contributions of people with disabilities to community life will become increasingly important. The 1990s should be a time to reevaluate the role that service systems can and cannot play in the lives of people with disabilities.
People can live wherever they want to live if they have adequate supports. -- Judy Heumann
As we begin to support people in their own homes, we need to develop new ways of providing services that foster choice and decision-making on the part of people with disabilities. The concept of personal assistance, as defined by the independent living movement, may provide guidance about how to think about support services for people with severe developmental disabilities. In the 1990s, we should have opportunities to struggle with how people with disabilities can have "control over" their services and still move toward an interdependent society where "power is shared." The extension of the concept of personal assistance to people with severe disabilities should be a critical issue in the next decade.
A complete copy of the statement in support of adults in the community is available.