Smaller buildings can preserve restrictions
The report, published in December 2025, drew on interviews with residents, staff and managers. It described restricted choices and fixed routines in the settings visited. Cleaner surroundings or fewer residents did not necessarily mean control over daily life. The authors called for the move into community living to be judged by people’s choices and autonomy. [2][1]
Personal assistance needs workable funding
At the launch, Mitko Nikolov of the Centre for Independent Living in Sofia argued for community support and personal assistance. In an earlier analysis, he criticised assessments organised around administrative categories rather than individual needs. The new report also identified low pay and limited assistance funding as obstacles to recruiting assistants outside the family. [1][3][2]
Housing and choice belong together
Advocate Stephan Viet described independent living as “having the same choices as everyone else”. The report connected that ambition with access to affordable, accessible housing, education, employment and social participation. Its recommendations called for resources to support people in the community and for disabled people to influence the services on which they depend. [2]