Independent living is a recognised right and a shared aspiration for many people with disabilities or support needs. It is not only about having one’s own home, but about being able to decide how one wants to live, take part in community life, and access the appropriate supports to do so with autonomy.

Despite the progress made by the independent living movement, many care systems continue to rely on institutionalising models focused on service delivery and dependency management. These models often limit people’s decision-making capacity and hinder full participation in community life.

The challenge for social services is to move towards more flexible, personalised, and community-based forms of support that strengthen personal autonomy, peer support, and connection with local resources and people in the surrounding environment.

This webinar will present two initiatives that promote independent living through community support, personalised guidance, and accompaniment to facilitate decision-making and access to the right supports.

• Neighbourhood Networks (Scotland): A model of local independent living communities for people with learning disabilities or multiple vulnerabilities. It promotes small local networks of up to twelve people living in the same area who support one another. Each network is supported by a community connector who fosters relationships, shared activities, and ties with the local environment. Support is flexible and progressive: it adapts to each person’s needs and decreases as their autonomy grows, avoiding dependency on services.

• A-PUNT, Independent Living Support Point – Grup Mifas, Support-Girona and Girona City Council (Catalonia): An information, guidance, and advisory service for people with disabilities or support needs. It acts as a one-stop service providing personalised support: from initial reception and community orientation to advice on daily living activities, training and skills development, and technical assistance with administrative procedures. It also works to connect users with available local resources and services, and promotes awareness-raising actions to combat stigma and foster a more inclusive society.

SPEAKERS:

Donna Hegarty, Development Manager at Neighbourhood Networks

Aloma Puigvert, Social Area Coordinator at Mifas and Social Worker at A.Punt

Gemma Palet, Social Referent at the Support-Girona Foundation and Social Educator at A.Punt