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

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 REHABILITATIONCommunity 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.