IDENTIFIED SERVICE AND TRAINING NEEDS OF CENTERS FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING IN THE SOUTHEASTERN UNITED-STATES

Center for Independent Living (CIL) directors and support personnel from 24 centers in the Southeastern United States were surveyed during the winter of 1991 regarding perceived training needs. Eighteen of 24 directors and 45 support personnel responded to a survey assessing service and training needs related to: director training, counselor programs, IL service needs, organizational training, advocacy programs, and needed educational resource materials. Tabled results are presented for the most frequently cited service and training needs reported by respondents. Overall findings suggest that CILs in the Southeast are concerned about accessing different funding sources to minimize reliance on federal dollars, effectively marketing their services to the community, teaching self-advocacy skills to consumers, advocating for Center and consumer needs, and involving consumers in Center activities. Service needs related to the provision of affordable and accessible housing, transportation, and a personal assistance program. Results of the study are discussed in conjunction with the author's direct experiences in providing training for CILs in the Southeastern United States.