Community conversations on independent living: understanding the perspectives and support needs of persons with disabilities living in the southeast United States

Abstract

Purpose

The pursuit of independent living outcomes has been a longstanding emphasis of disability policy, practice, and research. Yet the ways in which the experience of independent living is understood and advanced locally warrants more focused attention. This article describes a collaboration among a regional Center for Independent Living (CIL) and university researchers focused on developing more informed programs and supports to promote independent living for persons with disabilities in their service area.

Method

A total of 75 adults with disabilities attended four “community conversations” during which they provided diverse definitions of independent living and shared a wide range of supports they needed and currently accessed to meet their independent living goals.

Results

Attendee conversations generated 14 unique dimensions of independent living and 11 categories of independent living supports. Findings align with existing research asserting independent living as a multifaceted construct and extend the literature to include perspectives across a wider range of disability categories.

Conclusion

This study suggests that collaborations among Centers for Independent Living and researchers can be a fruitful context for conducting “needs assessments” and soliciting the perspectives of individuals with disabilities on (a) how they conceptualize independent living and (b) the local services and supports they need to attain their independent living goals.

IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATION

• Community conversations are an efficient and engaging way of soliciting the perspectives of community members with a variety of disabilities.

• Establishing a planning team fluent in universal design, accessibility options, and local needs is critical to implementing effective community conversations.

• For Centers for Independent Living (CILs), community conversations offer a valuable approach for obtaining substantive stakeholder input to inform strategic planning.

• CILS could play an active role in equipping transition-age students with the skills, knowledge, relationships, and linkages needed to attain their independent living goals in early adulthood.

Keywords:

• Independent living
• community participation
• quality of life
• disabilities

Disclosure statement

The authors report no conflicts of interest.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Tennessee Disability Coalition Small Grants Program.