Living in your own home with a disability - the experiences of people with disabilities of support from their community

摘要

Recent NDA research shows that living in the community is a necessary condition for enjoying independent living, but that on its own it is not enough. Living independently in the community can also be an isolating experience.udThere is little research on this topic, in Ireland or elsewhere, so in 2011 the NDA commissioned researchers to conduct semi-structured interviews with people with disabilities who access minimal or no support from specialist disability service providers. The research aimed to find out what makes independent living easier or harder for people with disabilities. In particular, it focused on how people with disabilities living independently in the community access “natural community supports”. These are people who are not disability service providers, but who provide assistance, contact or companionship which enables people with disabilities to participate in their local communities.