Advocacy for a self-determined life

Interessenvertretung Selbstbestimmt Leben in Deutschland e.V. (ISL) is a German registered association and the umbrella organization of the Centers for Independent Living (Zentren für selbstbestimmtes Leben, ZsL®). It is a cross-disability self-advocacy organization of people with disabilities: the association is organized, led and administered by disabled people themselves. Its headquarters are in Kassel, Germany. ISL was founded in 1990 by disabled women and men and is the German branch of Disabled Peoples' International, an international self-advocacy movement founded in 1980. Its core mission is the human-rights-compliant implementation of self-determination, empowerment, inclusion, participation, equal opportunities and accessibility in all areas of life. To pursue these goals, ISL is active in committees, working groups and action alliances; it gives lectures, speaks publicly in the media, organizes its own political protest actions and, when necessary, litigates for the rights of disabled people. As a national umbrella association, ISL is active in federal politics. It provides peer counseling based on the peer-counseling concept, runs training and further-education measures, informs the public about the living situation of people with disabilities, and works to change the public image of disability. It initiates and critically accompanies legislative and other political measures at the municipal, state, federal and international levels, networks individuals, projects and organizations, and supports landmark court and complaint proceedings to enforce the rights of people with disabilities. ISL operates a nationwide counseling hotline on the Personal Budget and the Budget for Work (reachable at 030 235 935 190 at the cost of a normal landline or mobile call). The association is project-funded and supported by membership fees and donations. It also organizes events such as peer-support sessions via Zoom and member assemblies; for example, a member assembly of ISL was scheduled in Berlin for 15 September 2026, at which Junge Selbstvertretung was to become a member. ISL has publicly campaigned on issues including Deutsche Bahn's treatment of people with disabilities, the political positions of the Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) toward people with disabilities, and budget decisions affecting self-determination.

Interessenvertretung Selbstbestimmt Leben in Deutschland e.V. (ISL) was founded in 1990 by disabled women and men. It is the German branch of Disabled Peoples' International, an international self-advocacy movement of people with disabilities founded in 1980. The association is headquartered in Kassel, Germany, and serves as the umbrella organization of the Centers for Independent Living (Zentren für selbstbestimmtes Leben, ZsL®). In 1992, ISL initiated the European Protest Day for the Equality of People with Disabilities, held annually on 5 May. This day has become a recurring focal point for disability-rights advocacy in Germany and beyond. Over the decades, ISL has developed into a cross-disability self-advocacy organization that is organized, led and administered by disabled people themselves. Its statutory goals are pursued through public information about the living situation of people with disabilities and efforts to change the public image of disability; counseling based on the peer-counseling concept; training and further-education measures and targeted public-relations work; initiating and critically accompanying legislative and other political measures at the municipal, state, federal and international levels; networking individuals, projects and organizations; and supporting landmark court and complaint proceedings to enforce the rights of people with disabilities. ISL also operates a counseling hotline for people with disabilities, their relatives, and staff of organizations and institutions on the topic of the Personal Budget. As a national umbrella association, ISL is active in federal politics and works on the human-rights-compliant implementation of self-determination, empowerment, inclusion, participation, equal opportunities and accessibility in all areas of life. It participates in committees, working groups and action alliances, gives lectures, speaks publicly in the media, conducts its own political protest actions and, when necessary, litigates for the rights of disabled people. The association is project-funded and supported by membership fees and donations. It continues to organize events such as peer-support sessions via Zoom and member assemblies; a member assembly was scheduled for 15 September 2026 in Berlin, at which Junge Selbstvertretung was to become a member.

• 1992

  ISL initiates the European Protest Day for the Equality of People with Disabilities, held annually on 5 May.

• 1990

  ISL is founded by disabled women and men as the German branch of Disabled Peoples' International.

• ISL member assembly in Berlin; Junge Selbstvertretung becomes a member.

Cross-disability self-advocacy organization and national umbrella association of Centers for Independent Living, run by and for people with disabilities, active in federal politics and human-rights-based advocacy.

• Nationwide counseling hotline on Personal Budget and Budget for Work

  Reachable at 030 235 935 190 at the cost of a normal landline or mobile call.

• Peer counseling

  Counseling of people with disabilities based on the peer-counseling concept.

• Training and further education measures

  Schulungs- und Weiterbildungsmaßnahmen as a means to achieve statutory goals.

• Public information and awareness work

  Informing the public about the living situation of people with disabilities and changing the public image of disability.

• Political advocacy and litigation support

  Initiating and critically accompanying legislative measures and supporting landmark court and complaint proceedings.

1. 1ISL e.V. – Selbstbestimmt Leben.isl-ev.de
2. 2Interessenvertretung Selbstbestimmt Lebende.wikipedia.org
3. 3Advocacy for a self-determined lifewikidata.org