Deinstitutionalisation

The process of transitioning people with disabilities — particularly intellectual disabilities and mental health conditions — from large, segregated residential institutions into community-based living arrangements with appropriate support services. Beginning in Scandinavian countries in the 1960s and spreading globally, deinstitutionalisation reflects a shift from the medical model of disability toward recognition that people with disabilities have the right to live in and participate in their communities. This movement has been a key driver for the development of assistive technologies, community support services, and inclusive design, as people who previously had their needs managed within institutional settings now require accessible tools and environments to support independent living, social participation, employment, and access to mainstream services like healthcare and education.