To me, IHSS is the embodiment of the disability rights movement—the belief that people with disabilities aren’t patients, but rather the experts of their own care, that they deserve to have control over every aspect of their life despite the severity of their functional limitations. Interdependence and being part of a larger community is my definition of independent living. I may be ‘dependent’ on others for my survival, but I also contribute to society as a whole.
Imagine you are not able to decide what time you go to bed or when you get to take a shower. I’m guessing most people would not tolerate that and yet this is a very real possibility for people with disabilities and older adults all over the country who have their HCBS services cut and may have to live in a nursing home. This is why I view the usage of consumer-directed personal care services as a fundamental human right.