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On November 14, at the NA Standing Committee on Labor and Social Affairs a working discussion was held on the American model of the Independent Living Service (ILC) and the preconditions of its localization in the Republic of Armenia.

The President of the NGO Agate Rights Defense Center for Women with Disabilities Karine Grigoryan, the President of the NGO Equal Rights, Equal Opportunities Anush Aslanyan, the Chairman of the Coalition for Inclusive Legal Reforms Mushegh Hovsepyan, the Senior Manager for USA Mobility International (MIUSA) Program Lydia Shula, the President and CEO of the ABLE Center for Independent Living of South Carolina Kimberly Tissot, the Chair of the U.S. National Council on Independent Living (NCIL) International Subcommittee, Vice-Chair of Alaska Statewide Independent Living Council, and Business Owner Doug Toelle, the International Human Rights Lawyer Janet Lord, the Personal Assistant Jane Atkinson took part in the discussion.

The Chair of the Standing Committee on Labor and Social Affairs Heriknaz Tigranyan in her welcome remarks highlighted the principle of the right to independent life laid on the basis of the RA law on the Rights of the Persons with Disabilities, as well as the providing the use of the realization of right and the legislative control.

First of all, the international experts highlighted adequate effective operation of the Independent Living Services for the beneficiary groups belonging to the groups of different kinds of disabilities and different age groups, as well as the involvement of the great number of persons with disabilities in the leadership of the Centers, in the Council and in Staff.

In the experts’ opinion, it is necessary to increase the engagement of the persons with disabilities for the right assessment of the capacities of the persons with disabilities in the process of the development of the laws, sub-legislative acts and programs concerning them.

The Independent Living Services realizes protection of rights and interests, mastery of independent living skills based on the individual need, mentoring and providing transitional services for the young people with disabilities. Two newly opened centers of independent living already exists in the Republic of Armenia.

At the end of the meeting the NGO representatives thanked the members of the legislative body for their readiness to make audible the voice of the civil society.