Independent living: relation among training, skills, and success

Logistic regression was used to examine the effects of independent living training programs on the probability of (a) remaining independent and (b) improving or maintaining skills for 1,498 people with developmental disabilities who were living in their own homes in 1983. The effects of improving or maintaining skills on the probability of remaining independent were also examined. Results showed that by the end of the 7-year study period, individuals who received greater amounts of independent living services and improved or maintained their independent living skills were more likely to still live independently. However, there was no significant relation between receiving such services and the probability of improving or maintaining one's skills. The programmatic implications of this apparently paradoxical finding were discussed.