Society Of Independent Living For The Disabled Selangor

Society of Independent Living For the Disabled Selangor is a NGOs established in February 6, 2008.

Our mission is to empower people with disabilities to participate in the life of the whole community to the level of their desires and abilities by providing information, resources, support and by increasing community awareness.

Our objectivesn are to improve the independence and quality of life of people with disabilities in the community by

1. Increasing awareness through public education.

2. Providing educational sessions, workshops, seminars and information to the general public and to people with disabilities.

3. Being a source of information on matters related to people with disabilities.

4. Identifying the needs of people with disabilities and the issues that impact them in the community.

5. To act as a voice for people with disabilities in negeri Selangor and in Malaysia at large.

6. To facilitate or undertake such projects, such as an information and resource centre, programs or services as may be required to achieve the charitable purposes of the Society.

What is Independent Living?

Independent 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 we want to do everything by ourselves and do not need anybody or that we want to live in isolation.

Independent Living means that we demand the same choices and control in our every-day lives that our non-disabled brothers and sisters, neighbors and friends take for granted. We want to grow up in our families, go to the neighborhood school, use the same bus as our neighbors, work in jobs that are in line with our education and interests, and start families of our own.

Since we 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 ourselves - just as everybody else.

To this end we must support and learn from each other, organize ourselves and work for social changes that lead to the legal protection of our human and civil rights.

We are profoundly ordinary people sharing the same need to feel included, recognized and loved.

As long as we regard our disabilities as tragedies, we will be pitied. As long as we feel ashamed of who we are, our lives will be regarded as useless.As long as we remain silent, we will be told by others what to do.

(Adolf Ratzka, 2005)

WHAT IS PEER COUNSELING

The dictionary reads that peer is an "equal", a "match". The Center for Independent Living matches consumers with disabilities with peer counselors who share the experience of having a disability. The counseling provided is informal and aimed at enabling the consumer to help him or herself. It may involve:

· Discussing feelings about similar experiences and emotions
· Sharing information and tips
· Locating social activities
· Advocating on behalf of the consumer's rights
· Supporting consumers in becoming more involved in community activities
· Enable consumers to learn self-advocacy skills

WHO ARE PEER COUNSELORS
Peer counseling is based upon the assumption that a person with a disability who has achieved an independent life style is best able to assist another to do so. Peer counselors are not trained psychologists or psychiatrists. Rather, they are individuals with disabilites who will assist a consumer in establishing realistic goals best suited to that person in their search for independence.

HOW DOES THE PROGRAM WORK ?
Together, the consumer and peer counselor identify interests and goals. They identify actions needed to achieve those goals, including what activities each will be responsible for completing. As goals are achieved and/or as interests change, consumers and peer counselors continue a relationship that is focused on meeting the consumer's individual needs. Through out the process, confidentiality is strictly maintained. If you have asked yourself any of the following questions, peer counseling may be of some help to you:

· How can I live an "independent" life with a disability?
· How can I think about living independently when my abilities fluctuate from day to day?
· Why did this happen to me?
· Will I ever feel okay about my limitations?
· Do I have to feel this way?
· Is there adaptive equipment that could make my life easier? Where and how do I get it?
· Can I become an active participant in my community?
· What about my education?
· Are people with disabilities able to work?
· Are intimate relationships possible?
· How can I cope with family members who don't think I can live independently?

What is Independent Living Skill Training Program?

The Independent Living Skill Training Program aims to encourage people with disabilities to be independent and to help them live more positively.

This manual is made to be used by a group of people with disabilities in institution, workshop, communities who want to lead an independent life on condition that a facilitator of the program, whom we call “Peer Counselor”, is a peer with a disability.

This program consists of 10 chapters, including Goalsetting, Identity Establishment, Health & Emergencies Management, Relationship with Volunteers/ friends, Family Relationships, Money Management, Housing, Meal Planning & Cooking, Sexuality, Socialbility & Information.