Search results for ‘Subject term:"learning disabilities"’ Sort:
Results 1 - 10 of 20
'It's my life' autonomy and people with intellectual disabilities
- Authors:
- BJORNSDOTTIR Kristin, STEFANSDOTTIR Guorun V., STEFANSDOTTIR Astriour
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Intellectual Disabilities, 19(1), 2015, pp.5-21.
- Publisher:
- Sage
- Place of publication:
- London
This article discusses autonomy in the lives of adults with intellectual disabilities. The article draws on inclusive research in Iceland with 25 women and 16 men and employs ideas of relational autonomy from the perspectives of the Nordic relational approach to disability. In this article, the authors examine autonomy in relation to private life, that is, homes and daily activities. The article demonstrates how practices have improved with time and seem less paternalistic. However, the article also demonstrates that the assistance people with intellectual disabilities receive in their homes often has institutional qualities, and they are often met with belittling perspectives from staff and family members. Furthermore, many did not have access to important information needed to develop individual autonomy and independence, including making their own choices. The research findings suggest that people with intellectual disabilities can with appropriate support develop individual autonomy and make their own choices. (Edited publisher abstract)
Life in the community
- Author:
- SINCLAIR Lynn
- Journal article citation:
- Mencap News, 44, May 1994, pp.10-11.
Discusses the conflicts and problems associated with personal decision taking by and for adults with learning disabilities. Looks at the Law Commission's work in this area.
Providing support for decision making to adults with intellectual disability: perspectives of family members and workers in disability support services
- Authors:
- BIGBY Christine, WHITESIDE Mary, DOUGLAS Jacinta
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disability, 44(4), 2019, pp.396-409.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
Background: Supporting people with intellectual disability to make decisions is an important issue for policy implementation yet there is little evidence about the practice of providing support. Method: This study aimed to understand the experiences of family members and disability support workers in providing support to adults with intellectual disability in Victoria, Australia. Twenty-three people drawn from these two groups participated in individual or focus group interviews. Results: Three major themes emerged from inductive thematic analysis: their ideas about decision support, approaches to support, and challenges they faced. Overall these revolved around juggling rights, practicalities, and risks. Conclusions: This study identified some of the challenges and practical strategies for providing decision support that can be used to inform practice and capacity building resources for supporters. (Publisher abstract)
Understanding of basic financial concepts among adults with mild learning disabilities
- Authors:
- SUTO W. M. I., et al
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Clinical Psychology, 45(2), June 2006, pp.261-266.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
In the context of recent legal and social policy developments, which encourage clinicians to support vulnerable adults in making their own financial decisions, we explored understanding of basic financial concepts among adults with mild learning disabilities. Using the literature about typically developing children, five measures entailing identification and ordering tasks were devised and were used to examine understanding of quantity, numbers and money among 30 men and women using specialist clinical services (mean FSIQ = 61.80; SD=10.59).The concept of quantity was easier to understand than those of numbers and money, and task difficulties increased with the magnitudes involved. The different types of conceptual understanding were closely related. These measures may be useful for analysing difficulties in, and informing interventions to maximize, independent financial decision making.
Maximising capacity to make financial decisions
- Authors:
- SUTO W.M.I., CLARE I.C.H., HOLLAND A.J.
- Journal article citation:
- Tizard Learning Disability Review, 10(3), July 2005, pp.4-11.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
This paper provides some guidance on how recent research into decision-making capacity can be used in clinical practice to maximise financial independence among adults with learning disabilities. Its key messages are (i) that capacity is changeable rather than fixed and static, and (ii) that an assessment of capacity is just a starting point for identifying and enhancing a person's strengths and addressing weaknesses. This first half of this paper contains and overview of some recent developments in social policy, capacity legislation and research. In the second half, a case study is discussed. It outlines some potential interventions for maximising financial capacity in different ways, as well as identifying some broad strategies for addressing difficulties in decision-making.
Placement decisions of families co-residing with an adult relative with an intellectual disability
- Authors:
- GREY Jillian M., TOTSIKA Vasiliki, HASTINGS Richard P.
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disability, 45(2), 2020, pp.167-175.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
Background: Placement behaviours of families of adults with intellectual disabilities has received little or no attention of researches to date. Methods: A prospective design was adopted to examine changes in placement decisions of 75 family carers over a 12-month period. Factors associated with changes were also examined. Results: Over 12 months, 30 families moved closer to considering an out of home placement. Of these 14 had placed their relative in out of home care. Proactive coping strategies were significantly associated with an increased likelihood of continued home care. Conclusion: While the results were similar to studies with children with intellectual disability (ID) or autism spectrum disorder (ASD), a move out-of-home occurred more quickly for adults. This may reflect current social policy and societal attitudes where moving out of home is more normative for adults with ID. The lack of association with all but one carer or care recipient factors suggest that changes in placement tendencies for adults may differ from that of children. (Edited publisher abstract)
The impact of Irish policy and legislation on how adults with learning disabilities make choices
- Authors:
- CAREY Eileen, GRIFFITHS Colin
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Learning Disabilities, 44(2), 2016, pp.111-121.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
This paper reflects the impact of policy and legislation in the context of how adults with learning disabilities make choices. Following an overview of policies which have improved choice for people with learning disability in the United Kingdom, this paper reviews ‘choice’ in current Irish policy and legislation. This paper, while making comparisons with capacity legislation in the United Kingdom, presents a discussion on the perceived impact of the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Bill (2013) based on submissions from the Citizens Information Board (2013a), Mental Health Reform (2014), and Quinn (2013). Further choice making challenges such as direct payments and information sharing which confront adults with learning disabilities are highlighted and overall conclusions are drawn. (Publisher abstract)
'I never thought I would have to do this’: narrative study with siblings-in-law who live together with a family member with a disability
- Authors:
- VANHOUTTEGHEM Inge, et al
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Learning Disabilities, 42(4), 2014, pp.315-322.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Using narrative research, the authors have aimed to gain an insight into the perspectives of 14 siblings-in-law (living in the Flemish part of Belgium) about the decision to live together with a family member who has a learning disability. The decision to live together usually begins with a crisis. However, the decision process is a complex mechanism; it involves dynamics and events within a family (between family members both with and without blood relationships) and is intensified by experiences within a society that holds different views about families and disability. To develop a deeper understanding of this complex process the article considers interpretations based on the contextual framework of Boszormenyi-Nagy. (Edited publisher abstract)
Knowledge of mental capacity issues in community teams for adults with learning disabilities
- Authors:
- WILLNER Paul, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 24(2), March 2011, pp.159-171.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
This study investigated knowledge of mental capacity issues among health and social services professionals working in community teams supporting people with learning disabilities. Participants included 40 health professionals, working in 10 multidisciplinary community teams in South Wales, for people with learning disabilities. Interviews were designed to elicit respondents’ understanding in relation to assessment of capacity and best-interests decision making. Most participants had prior training on the Mental Capacity Act 2005. While performance of social services and health staff was similar, results uncovered a total of 14 areas where there appeared to be significant gaps in knowledge. Overall, those who had experience of dealing with mental capacity issues had good insight into the extent of their knowledge. However, most participants said that the interview had made them aware of further training requirements.
Effect of playing computer games on decision making in people with intellectual disabilities
- Authors:
- STANDEN P.J., REES F., BROWN D.J.
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Assistive Technologies, 3(2), June 2009, pp.4-12.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
People with intellectual disabilities have difficulty making decisions and this may hinder their independence and inclusion in society. Interactive computer software may give them the opportunity to practice the underlying components of this skill. This study analysed whether repeated sessions playing a computer game involving aspects of decision making, such as collecting relevant information and controlling impulsivity, would improve performance in two non-computer based tests of decision making. Twelve adults with intellectual disabilities were randomly assigned to either an intervention group or control group. They were all exposed to 10 twice-weekly sessions, playing either the intervention game or the control game, which involved simple reaction time only. After repeated sessions, the intervention group showed a significant improvement in game score, with researcher assistance significantly decreasing. At follow up, the intervention group showed a significant decrease from baseline in the number of guesses made before guessing correctly on both of the decision-making tests. The decrease observed in the control group failed to reach significance.