In recent years, there has been an increase in awareness, both in Israel and abroad, of the need to help people with disabilities live independently in the community. Against this background, JDC-Israel initiated a qualitative study aimed at learning from people with disabilities by specifically examining: how they managed; who and what assisted them throughout their lives; and what were the obstacles they faced and how they overcame them.
The assumption underlying this examination was that throughout their lives, these respondents had amassed a vast life experience that could be shared with others with disabilities, thus encouraging them to carry on an independent life style. To this end, 15 people with disabilities living independently in the community were chosen, and their life stories examined with regard to occupation, housing, family, social life and studies.
All the life stories recounted in the interviews were touching and special. However, due to their extremely personal nature, it was impossible to present them in the framework of the report. The primary goal of this work was to identify issues common to all the stories that could help others in the future.
Some of the issues raised by the respondents can be subdivided into areas that make it easier to integrate into normal community life, versus areas that make it more difficult. Further, among the issues raised, it is possible to differentiate between environmental factors (e.g., physical accessibility, supportive services and public attitudes regarding the place of the disabled person in society) and personal factors (e.g., financial situation, personal attitude toward the disability, initiative, and support from others).
The study’s identification of factors that can be seen as components of success, as opposed to factors that are obstacles to success, may serve as a basis for the development of programs for others with disabilities and for increasing the awareness of decisionmakers to the needs of this population.
This study was initiated and partially funded by JDC-Israel.