Reflections on social integration for people with intellectual disability: Does interdependence have a role?

This paper examines the debate concerning the social integration of people with intellectual disability into the local community by considering the concept of independence in theory and in practice. A review of the literature in this area, centring around important studies by Szivos (e.g., 1991; 1992; 1993) is followed by a study of the support model in Milan, Italy, which places interdependence at the heart of its approach. It is observed that the Milanese approach views self esteem as resulting from the social integration of service users as a peer group rather than as individuals, while encouraging independence for users in the form of paid employment. The possibility of incorporating interdependence into British services is considered by calling for a reassessment of the ways in which relationships between people with disabilities and between people with and without intellectual disabilities are valued by service providers.