The Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN), Self-Advocates Becoming Empowered (SABE), National Youth Leadership Network and other national allies conducted personal interviews with peers with developmental disabilities attending SABE’s national self-advocacy conference to ask them about their experiences with home and community based services and access and involvement in “genuine community settings and lifestyles”.
The intent of these interviews was to obtain feedback from people with disabilities representing a broad diversity of people from across the country to develop a paper to submit to Sharon Lewis, Commissioner, Administration for Community Living (ACL), with a definition of “COMMUNITY” that captures the most vital elements of community life.