A guide for people with disabilities who want to lead a more independent life was announced by the Minister for Health and Children Brian Lenihan in Dublin this afternoon.
Your Life, Your Choiceoffers advice and information for people with disabilities on disability organisations, sports and recreation facilities, social welfare centres, transport, employment, education, and housing.
The guide, the first of its kind published in Ireland, also carries information on personal assistance services and advocacy.
Suzy Byrne from the Centre of Independent Living (CIL) said: "The Your Life, Your Choiceguide offers answers to all of the possible questions a person might have when they decide to begin the journey towards independent living."
"Independent living is defined as the right of all persons . . . to live in the community, with all of the privileges that this entails - full access to employment, transport, education, housing, health services and an active social life," she added.
Ms Byrne said up to 2,000 people had made the transition to independent living with the guidance of the CIL since 1992.
It is estimated that, internationally, approximately 1 in 10 people have a disability with 80 per cent of these people living in the developed world. In Ireland, approximately 300,000 people suffer from a disability.
