The Joint Committee of Human Rights, chaired by Dr Hywel Francis MP, recently announced an inquiry into the implementation of the right to independent living for disabled people, as guaranteed by Article 19, UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

Independent living is about disabled people having the same level of choice, control and freedom in their daily lives as any other person.

Independent living was placed at the heart of the last Government’s policy on disability.  Each of the three main political parties expressed their approval of the Independent Living Strategy published in 2008, which sets out actions aimed at improving the choice and control disabled people have over the services they need to live their daily lives. The aims of the strategy are that:

• disabled people (including older disabled people) who need support to go about their daily lives will have greater choice and control over how support is provided; and
• disabled people (including older disabled people) will have greater access to housing, education, employment, leisure and transport opportunities and to participation in family and community life.

You can read SIA's response here