Independent living means having the support you need to live the life you choose – with the same control and decision-making as all citizens
- Over a fifth of disabled people say that they do not frequently have choice and control over their daily lives (ONS Opinions Survey 2009)
Disabled people should receive the care and support that they need to fulfil their potential and contribute to society. They should have choice and control over that care and support, including their living arrangements. However, this is far from reality for many disabled people. When social care is delivered in a joined-up way with other services, and disabled people have the right to control their care and support, then, they can fully contribute to their communities.
To make this a reality, radical reform of the care and support system and new investment is desperately needed.
Radar calls for: rights to choose and control publicly funded support services in a new national, joined-up, portable support system – stripped from costs caused by unnecessary multiple assessments and bureaucracy – that boosts participation in the wider community, and the right not to be forced into any particular living arrangement – with duties on local authorities and health bodies to ensure that there are a range of quality services to meet our different needs, and decent working conditions for Personal Assistants (PAs) and support workers.
Radar’s members voice direct experience and, with our corporate, voluntary and public sector partners, develop innovative approaches to independent living. Find out more about Radar membership.
Ealing Centre for Independent Living won our People of the Year Independent Living Award in 2010 for their pioneering outreach work, reaching all communities, bringing together disabled people and carers – and enabling disabled people to access almost half a million pounds in support
We regularly issue policy papers and consultation responses.
Radar supports independence for all practically: through the Radar key to accessible toilets and guide and app to find them [link], our Doing Life Differently guides written by people with direct personal experience - to Doing Work, Money, IT and Careers Differently and our comprehensive guide for everyone living with disability or health conditions – If Only I’d Known That a Year Ago
Radar supports local user-led groups and influences government policy. We are now campaigning for the right to take your social care support package with you when you move.
Technology can support independence. Nuance won our People of the Year technology award for Dragon software that enables millions to communicate quickly and easily on mobile devices, simply by speaking
Get involved – join Radar today or get involved in campaigning
