Knowledge Database

• Slide Presentation for the lecture of: Connie Laurin-BowieInclusion International, Canada

• Topic of lecture: Inclusive Communities Are Stronger Communities: How Offering Choice, Support and Inclusion to People with Intellectual Disabilities Builds Stronger Communities for All

• The lecture was given at Beit Issie Shapiro’s 6th International Conference on Disabilities - Israel

• Year: 2015

The Right to Live Independently and be

Included in the Community

Unity and Diversity in ActionTel Aviv

Connie Laurin-BowieExecutive Director

Inclusion International is a global federation of family-based organizations advocating for the human rights of people with intellectual disabilities worldwide.

For over forty years Inclusion International has been committed to the promotion of these human rights and our organization now represents over 200 member federations in 115 countries throughout five regions including the Middle East and North Africa, Europe, Africa and the Indian Ocean, the Americas, and Asia Pacific.

– influencing global processes and ensure global efforts are responsive to the needs of families and self-advocates. The knowledge and expertise of our members is the Global Voice of people with intellectual disabilities and their families.

– Connecting members and partners on key issues facing

people with intellectual disabilities and their families. By providing opportunities for collaboration and engagement, II acts as a hub of learning and innovation.

– Providing direct support to members in their work by:• Equipping them with skills and knowledge to influence change• Capacity building• Technical support in the implementation of inclusion

Our Role GLOBAL VOICE

NETWORK

SUPPORT TO OUR MEMBERS

Convention on The Rights of Persons with Disabilities

Inclusion International Priorities

Recognition of Families

Inclusive Education

Legal Capacity

Living in the Community

Informed by Self Advocates

Informed by Families

Purpose of the Global Campaign

To ensure that the voice of self-advocates and families is heard in defining what it means to be included (and how Article 19 is interpreted)

To raise awareness of the exclusion and isolation that people with intellectual disabilities and their families continue to face

To identify the necessary conditions for achieving inclusion in the community

To share strategies for change

CRPD Article 19 Provides a framework or looking at

what living and being included in the community means.

Was negotiated/designed by people with intellectual disabilities and families

Is a tool for working with governments, law and policy makers

Is about Choice…

“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;”

Choice means.. Having opportunity and options Understanding decision making Empowerment Supports to make decisions innovation

Is about Support… “Persons with disabilities have

access to a range of in-home, residential and other community supports including personal assistance necessary to support living and inclusion in the community, and to prevent isolation or segregation from the community;”

Support means…

To Individuals: Services (attendant care, employment support,

disability specific services) income support/disability benefits/tax credits Personal support by family, friends, community To Families: Planning and information services Compensation for Income loss and disability costs Respite

Is about Inclusion “Community Services and

facilities fort he general population are available on an equal basis to persons with disabilities to persons with disabilities and are responsive to their needs.”

Inclusion means… Inclusive education Employment opportunities and

support Access to Justice Equal access to health care Transportation Recreation and social

Key Findings People with intellectual disabilities have no

voice or control in the decisions about where and with whom they live

The vast majority of adults with intellectual disabilities live at home with their families

But institutions continue to be a major human rights violation and there is evidence in some regions that the admission of children is increasing and that new forms of institutions are being created.

The major source of support and care which they receive is from their families

Families receive little or no support from communities or governments

Even when people with intellectual disabilities live in the community they are often isolated and excluded from the community

This is because service continue to be delivered in segregated and institutional systems and because communities fail to organize systems to be inclusive (education, health, transportation, political processes, cultural and religious groups employment etc.)

Implications for Public Policy and the Role of Family Based

OrganizationsChoice Legislative/policy reform Development of SDM Models Funding of both supply and demand sideSupport Family Friendly public policy Supports to the Individual AND supports the

family Inclusion Education/employment/health/other

Lessons from Deinstitutionalization

Take out the hardest to serve FIRST

The Transition process has costs

Not about moving services from one location to another

For More Information:

www.inclusion-international.org