A Study of Independent Living Program Provided by Self-help Groups for People with Disabilities

• Main Authors: FEN CHIN , CHEN, 陳芬芩
• Other Authors: PEY CHUN , PAN
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2015
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/334k4f

碩士 === 美和科技大學 === 社會工作系碩士班 === 103 === ABSTRACT The core concept of “Independent Living for Disabled People” is client-oriented, which means to encourage the people with disabilities (PWD) to live their own way, to share the equal citizenship as most people, and to promote ideas of individual development and self-determination. In order to reflect the spirit of independent living, represent the perspectives of disabled people, and build the most suitable model of service, this research attempts to present various points of view, which are helpful and significant for the future plans and policies. To estimate the implementation of Independent Living programs in Taiwan, this study interviewes 6 PWD self-help groups who operate the Independent Living Program with the local government. There are 6 leaders with disabilities and 5 social workers of the self-help groups joining the in-depth interview. There are three important findings. First, PWD self-help groups shifted to concern with social change and promote social right. They started to emphasis on social responsibility, rather than the private issues. Second, PWD is in an urgent need of transportation service. The main barrier to social participation comes from social environment. Third, the welfare resource of the government cannot fit into the needs of PWD because the Independent Living Program had no coherent prosedure from intake assessment to the final evaluation. In conclusion, bridging the communication between the government and non-profit institutions, like PWD self-help groups, could lead to a client-oriented and need based service of the Independent Living Program. Keywords: Disability, Independent Living, Self-help Group