Article 19 - independent living
model supports for people with
psychosocial disabilities
Tina Minkowitz
COSP 2017
Characteristics
• Independent living / Peer support
• Doing it for ourselves
– Self-definition of needs, tasks, desirability of support, choice of
supporters
– Development of community knowledge
• Self-determination
– Instructing and directing supporters
• Social model not medical model
– Descriptive not diagnostic
– Wide-ranging, creative, inventive (e.g. yoga, pub, shamanism, 12
steps for people of conscience)
• Different kind of skill and training
– Nonprofessional or professionals who set aside training
Rights-based mainstreamed Article 19
legislation
• US Disability Integration Act, S.910
• Project on model law of inclusion for 3 jurisdictions: Korea,
Japan, Taiwan
• DIA features of interest:
– Enforceable individual right to choose community-based longterm support services, instead of institutionalization
– Includes ‘emergent and intermittent needs’
– Mainstreams needs and assistance typical for people with
psychosocial disabilities, among others
– Community-based is defined to be free from coercion and
restriction
– Obligation on public entities to ensure supply of affordable
housing delinked from services
DIA continued
• DIA limitations
– Not an explicit repeal of coercive powers in mental
health legislation
– Access to services depends on ‘eligibility’ for
institutionalization
– Some medical model features in description of
needs and tasks
– Depends on implementing regulations and court
interpretation (opportunity/uncertainty)
Relationship with mental health
services?
• Are support needs in psychosocial disability the same as mental
health needs?
– How do we define mental health?
– Is mental health objective and subject to professional evaluation?
• Is mental health or psychosocial well-being an dimension of life or a
field circumscribed by professional disciplines?
• What should the relationship of mental health services be to Article
19?
• How can we simultaneously
– Transform mental health services to comply with CRPD and take in
insights from IL/PS/social model, and
– Open space for creative, wide-ranging, self-defined supports designed
by people with psychosocial disabilities?