Alternative community living practices in Taiwan: rethinking de-institutionalization and the human rights model

This chapter uses Taiwan, a familialistic welfare state, as a case study to highlight local practices and the challenges faced by the human rights model which aims to support people with disabilities to live independently. First, the residential care facilities are smaller than large institutions in the West and are also located close to the communities with community participation programs. Second, there was NIMBY resistance from the community, and the ratification of the CRPD did not trigger substantial community support, nor did closing the existing institutions. Finally, some alternative support programs for people with intellectual disabilities and their families were founded, such as ageing family group homes for families and their adult children with intellectual disabilities in communities. They still relied on family-support but this was different from traditional institutions. The experiences of Taiwan’s disability policy show a different trajectory of support for people with disabilities in the community.