On the occasion of Human Rights Day (10 December), we are proud to announce the publication of a new Toolkit for User‑Led and Intersectional Support and Advocacy for Centres for Independent Living (CILs).
The Toolkit provides a comprehensive, accessible guide for disabled persons, their organisations and allies on how to create and run CILs that genuinely respect independence, dignity and inclusion. It includes:
- A full definition of what a CIL is and why it matters, with clear explanations of services such as peer support, personal assistance, accessible housing, transport, and use of assistive technology.
- Practical guidance on how to set up a new CIL, from first organising a group of motivated disabled persons to planning, registration, funding, recruitment, and long‑term sustainability.
- A survey of existing CILs across Europe, showing diverse practices, strengths and challenges.
- A strong emphasis on intersectionality: encouraging CILs to be inclusive of all disabled people, regardless of gender, age, cultural background, income, migration history, or other factors.
- A “check‑list” to help CILs adopt accessible, inclusive, and user‑led approaches.
This Toolkit is also a tool for advocacy: it supports disabled people and grassroots organisations to claim their right to live independently in the community, under the principles of self‑determination, equal access, and social justice – fully aligned with the rights recognised in the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) and the broader human‑rights framework.
As the international community marks Human Rights Day, this Toolkit offers a concrete contribution: reminding us that human rights must not remain abstract ideas, but guide concrete policies and grassroots action so that independent living becomes a reality for all disabled people.
