title: [Autonomous dwellings: a device for social inclusion of mentally disabled young adults and adults].
abstract: The precedents linked to experiences of vital spaces developed until the late 20th century have shown types of dwellings for mentally disabled individuals characterized by an asylum modality. These base their action in the need to separate the "abnormal" from the community, on account of the supposed lack of responsibility attributed to them as well as to the concurrent difficulty attributed around the impossibility they possess to take care of themselves. In comparison to what has been exposed, we present an experience of autonomous dwellings for intellectually handicapped young adults and adults developed in Argentina, where a small group of peers live in an autonomous way, with the support of orientators, in a condominium, integrated to the community. This programme of autonomous dwellings provides support centred in the persons needs and focuses on equalling their opportunities. It constructs alternatives to the work that lead to the development of abilities and attitudes, contributing to the expansion of possibilities of self-determination and autonomy of mentally disabled people, maximizing their degrees of independence and social inclusion.
authors.affiliation: Hospital G. A. E. Tornú, CONICET. silviareisin@speedy.com.ar
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Reisin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D006801:Humans; D057187:Independent Living / Q000592:standards; D019989:Persons with Intellectual Disabilities / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D012917:Social Adjustment; D055815:Young Adult