The doctoral dissertation analyses persons with cerebral palsy, their daily lives, lack of social power and the decisions they can make, as well as their unmet needs, violated basic human rights, their experience of independent living, stigmatization, social exclusion, and aid processes and support available to them in designing appropriate solutions for their lives. Individuals with cerebral palsy are in a weakened position when establishing independence and when developing self-determination; thus, social support and the support of various professional services are essential for their independence. With this research, the experts who work with persons with cerebral palsy are also the subject of this research. In turn, the research also reflects their understanding of independence and the needs of an individual with cerebral palsy, the types of help and support they can offer, and the perspective for improving the support process. Within this research, the term independent living is considered as a right for all individuals, even persons with cerebral palsy, to have the same control and can make choices in everyday life that other persons take for granted. This includes growing up in their families, attending school; employment consistent with their education and skills; equal access to services and institutions of social life, equal access to culture and leisure activities. Most importantly, persons with cerebral palsy need to have control over their own lives and be able to think and speak for themselves and themselves. The theoretical background of this research includes insights into the real and imaginary position of persons with cerebral palsy, which, through various discourses, creates a negative image of persons with disabilities (including persons with cerebral palsy). The situation and specifics of persons with cerebral palsy inevitably affect all areas of their lives, above all, the establishment of their independent living. Theoretical background also highlights the factors and obstacles that significantly determine the course of life and decision-making regarding independent living of persons with cerebral palsy. The dissertation is formulated based on the reflection of the interaction between various contextual factors (understanding of independence, the ideology of independent living, family, aid process, social inclusion, education, disabilities, employment, institutional environment, acceptance in society, etc.) and different identities and social roles of persons with cerebral palsy in connection with the development of individual's independent living. Persons with cerebral palsy represent the critical stakeholder in the dissertation. The research is aimed at reflecting on artificially constructed concepts of support, independent living, and disability. The research seeks the answers to questions regarding individual subjectivity, self-determination, and the active role of individuals in support processes and in planning their independent living. The purpose of the dissertation is to strengthen the voice of people with cerebral palsy and allow them to draw or highlight their views, experiences, needs, preferences, issues, and desires. With this in mind, the doctoral dissertation focuses on the rarely heard voice of people with cerebral palsy who speak in their way and express themselves uniquely. The dissertation identifies fundamental factors that significantly contribute successful planning of an independent life of persons with cerebral pals through empirical research, as the professionals and social relations they establish and maintain with persons with cerebral palsy. The research is theoretically funded on a social model of disability (in our case cerebral palsy), which places the individual's barrier at the level of society and outside the individual's body. Nevertheless, the dissertation does not neglect the fact that cerebral palsy is a motor and cognitive impairment; the individual’s impairment remains a fact. In the doctoral dissertation, we adopt the qualitative research approach to explore the critical facilitators for achieving independent life for people with cerebral palsy. Using semi-structured interviews, we explore the subjective opinions of people with cerebral palsy and experts regarding the definition of independent living, existing needs, and issues affecting individual's life. We further identify the necessary competencies of professionals to adequately help a person with cerebral palsy and the strengths of people with cerebral palsy, which can significantly contribute to the quality of life of people with cerebral palsy. Finally, we highlight the importance and impact of the process of support, aid services, family, and education on the independent life of people with cerebral palsy. Persons with cerebral palsy are often ignored, and their voices are disregarded. They do not receive sufficient adjustments and support and often feel stigmatized and excluded. Due to limited financial resources, persons with cerebral palsy often feel deprived and dissatisfied with professional help and face society's prejudices. Experts emphasize the need for education and training to work with adults with cerebral palsy and identify the benefits and contribution of their inclusion in the work process from the perspective of power and co-creation, which leads to positive outcomes in the working relationship and professional practice. Based on the results of this research, we propose a new model of assistance and support, which is funded on a cooperative relationship between the experts and the person with cerebral palsy and an active role of the person with cerebral palsy in the processes. We propose a holistic and individualized approach that stems exclusively from the needs of persons with cerebral palsy and covers modern concepts of the support process. In formulating future directions and recommendations for changes in the existing support processes in conjunction with the planning of independent living of people with cerebral palsy, we relied on the theoretical concepts from the Strengths perspective in social work practice,‘Solution Focused Brief Therapy and the Concept of resilience development. The dissertation reveals the fundamental mechanisms that keep people with cerebral palsy in a subordinate position and prevent them from living independently. Thus, it aims to represent a step towards a more fair society. The dissertation highlights how the patronizing attitude is reflected in less-satisfactory solutions for independent living of persons with cerebral palsy. It also identifies how the real insight into the lives of persons with cerebral palsy is distorted due to the stigmatizing, ambivalent attitude towards persons with disabilities and ingrained prejudices. Furthermore, the voices of persons with cerebral palsy and their right to self-determination and decision-making in conjunction with their interpretation of their needs and their desires are too often overlooked and disregarded. The absence of their voice represents the fundamental precondition for repression. Society tends to label persons with disabilities as»sick",»different,»or»incompetent.»It is generally assumed that persons with disabilities do not need to work and are thus often excluded from daily life duties, in many cases even marginalized. Our goal is also to make the community aware of the rights of citizens with disabilities and that their rights to quality of life are equal to those of everyone else. The research is one of the few that observes persons with cerebral palsy in Slovenia as subjects and stakeholders and not only as mere objects of observation. Such a perspective enables a new understanding of persons with cerebral palsy and fair integration of persons who are labeled as only barriers into society.
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