Independent Living

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Px6pBjguuA


Name of Article: The Cultural Perspectives of Independent Living and Self-help Movement of People with disabilities
Goal: Independent Living

Weather it be Independent living or self-help, persons with disabilities are striving for self determination and control over their own lives in developing and developed countries in the world. Developed countries like Japan and the United States have gone far beyond in accommodating persons with disabilities in what is referred as Independent Living. This transition has occurred due to two major reasons: the use of modern technology and assistive devices (computer-aided equipment and motorized wheelchairs) and the procurement of social services and programs which would help the person with disability to be included in the wider community (personal care attendant). On the other hand, in developing countries, these services and modern technology has kept back this special group of individuals to be accommodated in the wider community. Compounded with this, they have to rely on self-help programs which offered by limited resources that exist in these countries. More so, other hurdles which keep them back from being included in the community are parental dependency and dependency by social and economic support. Teachers and parents, as well as governments in developing countries need to seek funding to develop programs that are already functioning in developed countries in terms of accommodating this special group of human resources. The persons with disabilities, on the other hand, need to start to make their own choices and speak up for their legal rights to be included in the wider community.

http://www.dinf.ne.jp/doc/english/asia/resource/z00ap/002/z00ap00208.html