10 Principles of CIL

  1. Civil Rights-equal rights and opportunities for all; no segregation by disability type or stereotype.
  2. Consumerism-a person (“consumer” or “Customer” ) using or buying a service or product decides what is best for him/herself.
  3. De-institutionalization—no person should be institutionalized (formally by a building, program, or family) on the basis of a disability.
  4. De-medicalization—individuals with disabilities are not “sick,” as prescribed by the assumption of the medical model and so not require help from certified medical professionals for daily living.
  5. Self-help – people learn and grow from discussing their needs, concerns, and issues with people who have had similar experiences; “professionals” are not the source of the help provided.
  6. Advocacy – systemic, systematic, long term, and community-Wide change activities are needed to ensure that people with disabilities from all society has to offer.
  7. Barrier- removal – in order for civil rights, consumerism, de-institutionalization, de-medicalization, and self-help to occur, architectural, communication and attitudinal barriers must be removed.
  8. Consumer Control—the organizations best suited to support and assist individuals with disabilitites are governed, managed, staffed, and operated by individuals with disabilities.
  9. Peer role models – leadership for independent living and disability rights is vested in individuals with disabilities (not parents, service providers or other representatives).
  10. Cross-disability – activities designed to achieved the first five principles must be cross-disabilities in approach, meaning that the work to be done must be carried out by people with different type of disabilities for the benefits of all person with disabilities.