Making progress in the rights of people with intellectual disabilities to an independent life requires requires transforming the support model, promoting decision making among people with intellectual disabilities, and strengthening interpersonal skills linked to emotional support in the training of professionals.

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A pesar de la ratificación de España de la Convención sobre los Derechos de las Personas con Discapacidad en 2007, son escasos los estudios sobre la situación de las personas con discapacidad intelectual (DI) respecto a su derecho a la vida independiente (art. 19). Con el objetivo de analizar las barreras, los apoyos y los retos que inciden en el ejercicio de este derecho, se realizó un estudio cualitativo con el que se aplicaron 10 grupos focales y 22 entrevistas individuales a personas con discapacidad intelectual, 5 grupos focales con familias y 33 entrevistas individuales con profesionales. Los resultados de la investigación ponen de manifiesto la necesidad de garantizar la universalidad del derecho a la vida independiente, ofrecer apoyos personalizados de calidad y desarrollar acciones formativas y de sensibilización en materia de derechos con los distintos actores implicados.

Para citar: Pallisera, M. et al. (2017): "Apoyando la participación real de las personas con discapacidad intelectual: una experiencia de investigación inclusiva sobre vida independiente". Revista Española de Discapacidad, 5 (I): 7-24. Doi ResumenEn nuestro contexto se han desarrollado escasas experiencias de investigación realizadas conjuntamente entre investigadores académicos e investigadores con discapacidad intelectual. Este artículo tiene como finalidad aportar una experiencia de investigación cualitativa sobre vida independiente y discapacidad, desarrollada por las autoras (investigadoras académicas) en colaboración con un Consejo Asesor integrado por personas con discapacidad intelectual. Se pretende, además de presentar el desarrollo y resultados de la investigación, explicar cómo se ha construido el proceso de colaboración entre los asesores y las investigadoras de la universidad a lo largo de las distintas fases del estudio. También se van a concretar las estrategias de apoyo que se han ofrecido a los asesores para plantear, finalmente, las reflexiones sobre los principales retos que conlleva avanzar en los procesos de investigación inclusiva. Con ello se pretende contribuir al avance de las investigaciones inclusivas en las que las personas con discapacidad tengan un protagonismo real en el estudio de los problemas que las afectan. Palabras claveInvestigación inclusiva, discapacidad intelectual, vida independiente, investigación colaborativa. AbstractIn our context, few studies have been developed jointly between academic researchers and researchers with intellectual disabilities. The aim of this article is to describe a qualitative research experience about independent living and intellectual disabilities conducted by the authors (academic researchers), in collaboration with an Advisory Committee composed of people with intellectual disabilities. Aside from exposing the development and the results of the investigation, this article aims at narrating the collaboration process between the advisors and the university researchers along the different research phases. The support strategies offered to the advisors are also detailed, as well as some considerations about the main challenges faced along inclusive researches. This paper intends to contribute to the advancement of inclusive research, capable of ensuring that people with disabilities have a real role in the study of the problems that affect them.

(1) Background: Since 2012, our Inclusive Research Team has developed several studies on various topics that interest the co-researchers with intellectual disabilities. In 2021, throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the co-researchers decided to investigate the impact of the pandemic on the relationships of people with intellectual disabilities. The aim of this article is to disseminate how this inclusive study was developed and to explain its results; (2) Methods: Co-researchers and academic researchers met six times to make different decisions: decide on the research topic; discuss the topic; prepare an interview script for people with intellectual disabilities; analyse the data obtained; and decide how to disseminate the results of the research. The co-researchers interviewed 10 people with intellectual disabilities and participated as facilitators in 3 focus groups; (3) Results: During the pandemic, digital devices have enabled people with intellectual disabilities to maintain their social relationships. However, the lack of access or support in using them, as well as the restrictions imposed on people with intellectual disabilities living in institutions, have presented significant barriers to maintaining their social relationships; (4) Conclusions: This article shows the difficulties people with intellectual disabilities face in maintaining successful social relationships in times of pandemic, and how we undertook research in an inclusive, virtual manner.