Deinstitutionalization

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Deinstitutionalization is the process of transfer from segregated facilities to living environments of one's own choice. The Zero Project is looking for nominations that support this process and promote alternative living arrangements.

Deinstitutionalization is not specifically mentioned in the UN CRPD, but the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) describes deinstitutionalization as:

(...) a process that provides for a shift in living arrangements for persons with disabilities, from institutional and other segregating settings to a system enabling social participation where services are provided in the community according to individual will and preference.

A recent ANED report on the topic found, that “although there are some positive examples of approaches designed to expand and deepen choice and control, such as user-led personal assistance schemes, individualized budgets and peer support, these are often small scale and experimental. Peer support and self-advocacy seem generally peripheral to the strategies of many EU member States.” (Source: ANED: The right to live independently).

Nominations shall not contain:

  • Projects about people living in segregated institutions.

Zero Project Awardees

Independent Living | Deinstitutionalization

Here are some examples of successful nominations from the previous call for nominations on the topic of Independent Living (2019).