How I turned into Rockford Independent Living?
Rockford independent living is the
ability to live independently and productively in the community and to live
with the same freedom of choice as a non-disabled person. So it's not that you
are living on your own but that you control where you live and have the same
range of choices as a non-disabled person.
What is Rockford independent living?
Independent living means the ability to
examine alternatives and make informed decisions and direct one's own life.
This ability requires the availability of information, financial resources and
peer group support systems. Independent living is a dynamic process, it can
never be static. A person's physical, emotional and social environment and
subsequent needs are continually changing and evolving. The struggle for
Independent Living and personal determination is something each disabled person
must approach in their own way. However, as disabled persons we have common
problems and concerns and we must continue to work together to eliminate
artificial barriers to our full and equal participation in society. Independent
living really is an idea, a concept, a thought process. You apply this thought
process to your lifestyle. I would think that even if a person were in prison
and the only choice that they could make would be whether they would eat their
food when they first got it, or eat it an hour later, they would still be
practicing Independent Living.
Is your current lifestyle an example
of Independent Living?
I have not the same choices as a
non-disabled person but over the years I have developed a system and options.
So I have close to the same range of choices but that's only because I have my
own money. If I were simply dependent on what society has to offer, I would not
be productive. It's very clear to me that what I am able to do in terms of the
work I do in the BC Coalition of the Disabled and in other organizations is a
function of the aids I have acquired. If I didn't have them when I needed them,
I couldn't make my contribution to society.
Having control over my own workers is
very important. I have arranged things so I select my own worker now. That has
made a big difference in my life. As long as I was getting homemakers from the
government agency that took an enormous amount of time each week. You have to
really work to ensure that the homemakers do the work that you need done. I
used to establish a close personal relationship with the person so they would
have motivation.
Now that I pick my own people they feel
responsible to me. Legally they are the agency's employee but they and I know
that they are my employees. It takes a lot less of my time and energy this way.
It also makes an enormous difference that I have money to pay for extra hours.
I'm able to say, Rockford independent living is what I want. If there are
things that I want done that are outside the government's guidelines, I pay for
it with my own money.
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