Community social support for people with autonomy support needs: the role of institutional protection in Spain

Abstract

People with disabilities face social barriers on a daily basis that cause high levels of social exclusion and isolation. As a result, this study analyses the support needs of people with disabilities under institutional protection in relation to community social support. To this end, a correlational cross-sectional study with a mixed methodology was used. A total of 125 people participated in the study. The results indicate that community integration and participation are areas in which the protagonists find severe limitations while social support in formal and informal systems seems to be satisfactory. In addition, the type and location of the residential centre are shown as determining variables.