âIndependent Living is a philosophy and a movement of people with disabilities who work for self-determination, equal opportunities and self-respect. Independent Living does not mean that PwDs want to do everything by themselves and that they do not need anybody or that they want to live in isolation. PwDs demand the same choices and control in their every-day lives that people without disabilities take for granted. PwDs want to grow up with their families, go to the neighborhood school, use the same bus as their neighbors, and work in jobs that are in line with their education and interests, and start families of their ownâ
âSince they are the best experts on our needs, we need to show the solutions we want, need to be in charge of our lives, think and speak for ourselvesâjust as everybody else. We must support and learn from each other, organize ourselves and work for changes that lead to the legal protection of our human and civil rightsâ