Operation "Get Out"

Operation "Get Out" was another highlight in the history of the Irish Independent Living Movement. On Thursday, the 24th of February 1994, this innovative and progressive programme was launched.

As the name implied, the programme enabled people with significant disabilities to move from long term residential care to independent living situations. The programme initially involved ten participants. Jana Overbo , development officer stressed at the time that the people accepted for the project were chosen carefully: "We picked people who were going to fight and be strong and really wanted it." (Evening Press 25th of March 1994)

These ten people received training and support in all aspects of independent living. They managed their own personal assistants for the first time. The P.A.'s provided assistance with all aspects of daily living, shopping, cooking, house maintenance and assistance in the work place,classroom or social situations. The important distinction was that whatever the setting or job duty it was at the discretion and control of the person with a disability. The participants, who had at that point, in most cases, lived all their lives in institutions, received help in building a range of skills and a support network.

Operation "Get Out" was the realisation of one of the ideals of the Independent Living Movement. The Independent Living Movement rejects the idea that assistance can only be provided in institutional and residential care settings. Instead it argues that it is economically more desirable and socially more acceptable to provide the choice to live in the community. We do not say that residential care is wrong. What we say is that there must be a choice - no longer can society simply assume what is best for people with disabilities.

For too long residential care had been the only option open to people with significant disabilities. Without the existence of a comprehensive personal assistance service people with significant disabilities had been unable to live in the community but were kept dependent at home or living in institutional or residential care. This led to disabled peoples systematic and continual exclusion from mainstream economic and social life.

The Operation "Get Out" programme espoused the key elements of the independent Living philosophy - self determination, choice control over one's life, responsibility empowerment and autonomy. Designed and delivered by people with significant physical disabilities, it also fulfilled a key part of the philosophy of Independent Living - "Nothing about us without us". In other words people with disabilities are the only "experts" on what their needs are.

The coordinator of Operation "Get Out" was Gordana Rajkov , who had vast experience in the fields of disability and independent Living. She was directly involved with all the participants and worked with them to solve problems and devise the best package to suit their needs and lifestyles.

The launch was held at offices of the National Rehabilitation Board in North Great George's Street thanks to the assistance of Elaine Farrelly and Josette Cuthbert and the staff at NRB. Two Operation "Get Out" participants addressed the assembly as well as Eugene Callan, head of the consultative committee. RTE News, Nuacht Irish Language News, The Irish Press, Evening Press, The Irish Times ( Read an article from the Irish Times on Operation "Get Out" ) and "Morning Ireland" provided the coverage for the event and Gay Byrne invited the public to attend on Monday morning. Liam O Maonlai , the president of the Center for Independent Living at the time, talked of supporting the new vision of people with disabilities who have much to offer the world ...however in order to do so this society must empower them rather than "care"for them.

The Center for Independent Living through its work within the Independent Living through its work within the Independent Living philosophy and its appropriate consumer based programmes is working to make this vision a reality.

A nice piece on Operation "Get Out" and on the Center for Independent Living in general also appeared in the Irish Times at the time. Click here to read that article.

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Operation "Get Out"

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