Independent Living in Scotland

Get Connected!

This section of the website is all about the Independent Living Movement. If you are taking action or thinking of taking action for independent living or you simply support the aims of the Movement – you’re in the Movement.  Use these pages to help you get connected to the wider Movement.

What is the Independent Living Movement?

The Independent Living Movement has grown because disabled people are frustrated by the lack of control they have over their own lives. And it's here, in Scotland.

The Movement believes that disabled people are best placed to make decisions about their own lives.

It challenges the individual approach taken by many organisations to solve independent living challenges. Often the individual solutions achieved only benefits one person.  It would be far better to share the knowledge and look at the bigger picture – that of equality of opportunity for all disabled people.

More and more disabled people, networks and organisations are coming together to make their voices heard and to change the policies that currently disable them. They aim to influence policy-makers and service-providers to design services which are 'joined-up'. This means that services fit disabled people's choices and that disabled people are not forced to fit in with the services. Let's face it - one size does not fit all.

Find out more

We've written a short leaflet about the Independent Living Movement. It tells you what the Movement is and what its aims are, who is in it, what do we mean by 'allies' and how it all got started in the first place.

You could pass use this leaflet on to others including service providers to get a conversation started or to tell others about the Movement. You can download copies of this leaflet or contact us for copies.

• It’s Our World Too (Word)
• It’s Our World Too (PDF)

What can you do?

Are you a disabled person who supports the principles of choice, control, dignity and freedom for all disabled people? Then you're part of the Independent Living Movement already!

Maybe you are already campaigning and taking action in your community or nationally to make independent living a reality for all disabled people. Or you are at the stage where you are finding out more information and deciding what you can contribute at this time.

Here are some things you could do:

1. Join in – search the Directory of organisations and networks already active in the Independent Living Movement in Scotland.  You can also add your own details to the Directory. 
2. Get inspired - read stories from the Movement about what other disabled people are doing or you might ask to join them  - The Spotlight.
3. Get under the Spotlight – spread the word, tell the world!  Use our form to tell others what you are already doing or planning to do and we could include it on this website. You could also ask for more people to join you, ideas or other support here.
4. Get tooled up – we can all use more resources.  Look at the Get Active! section of this website to find out about resources that might help you. You can also tell people about resources you know about.
5. Pass it On – we all need to pass it on.  We need to be telling more and more public services and other disabled people and society about this agenda.  We need to be telling them what independent living is and what the Independent Living Movement is doing.   We’ve to help us do this.  Pass it On includes
   1. information about independent living
   2. a cheque to tear out and keep with contact details
   3. a cheque to send to us telling us what you think, what you need to take action or what your priorities are – anything about independent living really (we will use this information to strengthen the Movement) and finally....
   4. ...pass it on – pass the cheque book on to another disabled person, to your GP, your local councillor or MSP, your neighbour – anyone who needs to know more.

 

 

You can order Pass it On cheque books by contacting us.