The process of deinstitutionalization is founded on ethical principles based on human rights. These rights must apply to all, including those who have long-term difficulties, disabilities, or are in a period of life that demands the specific exercise of such values or rights. We want to abolish institutions and enable people to live in the community with appropriate care and support through deinstitutionalization, often a long and demanding process.
In this process, we do not see people who do not have access to society as passive and objectified patients. We see them as equal and full-fledged citizens who have the right to full participation and inclusion in society. They also have the right to choose, decision-making power, and independence.
When it comes to children, everyone should grow up and develop in a family environment, including children with difficulties, disorders, or disabilities. These children have the same rights to family life, education, and health care as their peers who do not have the “disorder” label.
Equality of the elderly means that they have the right to a dignified life, independence, and participation in social and cultural life.
In help and support services, relationships must be friendly, genuine, and warm. Services need to listen to the individual and enable them to develop their potential and skills. It is also necessary to overcome segregation and enable everyday contact with others in the community. Only this way can the position and the role of the elderly be re-evaluated.
Deinstitutionalization seeks to eliminate or prevent lawlessness, powerlessness, imprisonment, coercion, treating people as second-class citizens, dependence, transfer of responsibility, exclusion, objectification, adjustment to the institution, staff rigidity, and hierarchy of relations.
On the other hand, DI advocates full-fledged rights, decision-making power, mobility, free will, the universality of rights, independence, solidarity, inclusion, the right to everyday life, freedom of choice, understanding of people as subjects, the flexibility of services, horizontality, and democracy.
It seeks to achieve these values through anti-discrimination principles, the perspective of virtues, independent living in the community, networking, normalization, personalized services, secure employment for existing staff, dialogue, joint decision-making, etc.
Bellow the eight basic principles of deinstitutionalization can be found:
I. The residents of the institutions are equal citizens.
II. Participation of users and involvement of users in the transition from institutions to community care.
III. Providing safe working conditions and education to existing staff.
IV. Enabling independent living.
V. Connecting and collaborating with the community.
VI. Giving users a choice and influencing their own lives.
VII. Abolition of coercive means.
VIII. Individualized and personalized care.