Increasing access to community living: A national study of independent living skills and community activities
Year: 2010
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: The purpose of this study was to identify critical independent living skills and community-based activities deemed to be important for adults with disabilities who live successfully in community residences in the United States, and evaluate their level of independence on each skill and frequency of participation in each activity. Participants included residential specialists from small community residences (i.e., 8 or less residents) in 26 states who had experience delivering residential services to adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. A survey was mailed to 1000 residential specialists using a random proportional stratified sampling procedure; 280 completed surveys were used for data analysis. Skill areas addressed in the study included domestic, safety, community, and recreation/leisure. Grooming and hygiene, mealtime behaviors, and safety skills (e.g., medical related items, emergency response items) were the most frequently identified critical skills. Residential specialists indicated that individuals with severe disabilities require assistance on most or some steps of domestic and safety skills, and participate less than monthly in most community activities. Watching TV and shopping were the most frequently performed recreational activities at home
Author: Rahkyung Kim
Language: English
Subfield: Education
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W1522756171