1 CENTRES FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING (CIL’s) Centres for Inclusive Living Centres for Integrated Living

2 Historical Perspective The first Centre for Independent Living was established in Berkeley, California in Underpinning its establishment was people's attempts to leave residential care and live independently in the community. (Sharkey 2000) The first Centre for Independent Living

3 CILs in Britain Hampshire Derbyshire Spread quickly throughout UK Southampton to Glasgow to Ireland Voluntary Sector Leeds – attached to Adult and Community Service but own management committee of disabled people 1980’s

4 CILs in Ireland Carmichael House, Dublin established in 1992 by and for disabled people Aim: 1. ensuring that people with disabilities achieved independent living, choice and control over their lives, and full participation in society as equal citizens. 2. It offered an advocacy and campaigning representation role, striving to bring about a social model of service delivery, and to ensure policy decisions would include input from those whose lives were actually affected. 1. It also held an action-research role in monitoring developments in the world of Independent Living.

5 Dublin CIL's main objectives are: To provide support for people with disabilities to live and work in the community. To provide a forum for people with disabilities to explore and realise their human, civil, social, political, and economic rights. To facilitate the raising of disability issues at a local Government, State, European, and International level.

6 CIL Structure Limited company Forty-three members Board of Directors. It is the Board of Directors that sets the goals and devises policies for CIL in consultation with its members. Board's role is to map out the future direction of the Independent Living Movement in Ireland.

7 Regional Centres for Independent Living Currently twenty-six Centres for Independent Living operating throughout Ireland. Each Centre functions on an individual basis, although all adhere to the same principles of Independent Living.

8 What does the term CIL mean? Used to describe a variety of service models Key 1.Controlled and managed by disabled people 2.Operate to the principles of the social model of disability

9 Who uses CIL’s for support? People with: Physical and/or sensory impairments Learning disabilities Mental health issues All ages Driven usually by working age adults with physical and/or sensory impairments

10 CILs value recognised by government Prime Minister’s Strategy Unit report ‘Improving the Life Chances of Disabled People’ (2005) The report recommends capacity building in existing user-led Centres for Independent Living (CILs) and the development of new CILs with the specific recommendation that: “By 2010, each locality should have a user- led organisation modelled on existing CILs.”

11 Services/support recommended

12 Other possible support Role in delivery/monitoring/cataloguing equipment User involvement and consultation Self-directed support and Individualised budgets

13 Peer support, mentoring and empowerment Direct payments advice and support Knowing what accessible features, environments and facilities are required for participation to be physically inclusive to all

14 Support for consultation and involvement Providing interpreting and transcription services Employment and education support Access auditing

15 Disability Equality and diversity training Knowledge of the Disability Discrimination Act and other disability specific legislation Accessible housing and transport Delivering research, consultancy and training

16 CIL’s value recognised by Department of Health £850,000 in to support the development of approximately ten User-led Action and Learning Sites The User-led Organisations Development Fund is an opportunity for user-led organisations to become a User-led Action and Learning Site

17 Local recognition User-led organisations Whitby and Scarborough DAG have been selected to become an Action and Learning Site Choices & Rights, Hull made a successful bid to develop a user-led organisation in Richmondshire

18 What could a CIL look like in North Yorkshire?

19 Or maybe………

20 ‘Magic Formula’ Establishing a local CIL Rurallity challenging - Rural v urban Satellites across the county Drive has to come from disabled people Few groups controlled by disabled people Limited awareness amongst disabled about philosophy of CIL’s

21 How are CIL’s Resourced? Existing Cil’s range of funding: Adult and Community Services/Lottery Future: ‘Improving the Life Chances of Disabled People’ states: “Funding for the services provided will come from Service Level Agreements with health, social services, DWP and other agencies, and from spot purchasing of services such as disability equality training and consumer audits”

22 Centres for Independent Living are : Grass-roots organisations run and controlled by disabled people Their aims are for disabled people to have control over their lives and achieve full participation in society They work towards these aims by representing disabled people’s views locally and nationally, and by providing services which promote independent living

23 Next Steps.. Develop a model to suit the county Look to see which elements/services could be provided by a CIL