Search results for ‘Subject term:"learning disabilities"’ Sort:
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Family network typologies of adults with intellectual disability: associations with psychological outcomes
- Authors:
- TOURNIER Tess, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 34(1), 2021, pp.65-76.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Background: Based on self‐reported social capital, different typologies of family networks of people with intellectual disabilities were examined. Associations between behavioural and emotional problems or well‐being and typologies were investigated. Method:137 participants with mild intellectual disability were interviewed using the Family Network Method‐Intellectual Disability to assess their emotionally supportive family relationships. Data on participants’ well‐being and behavioural and emotional problems were also gathered. Latent class analysis was used to identify family typologies based on social network measures. Results: Four distinguishable typologies were identified, two supportive and two less supportive. A small association was found with behavioural and emotional problems and one of the supportive typologies. Associations with constructs of well‐being were found for both supportive and less supportive typologies. Conclusions: A variety of family types were found, with implications for sensitive professional support. (Edited publisher abstract)
Systems theory - a model of understanding
- Authors:
- HAMES A., GERTIG P.
- Journal article citation:
- Community Care, 12.3.87, 1987, pp.26-27.
- Publisher:
- Reed Business Information
Working with families with a mentally handicapped member.
Love is simply not enough
- Author:
- TOMLINSON Caroline
- Journal article citation:
- Tizard Learning Disability Review, 17(1), 2012, pp.26-31.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
Drawing on personal experience, this article aims to tell the story of the author's son, who has learning disabilities, and how the family tried to ensure quality of life for him and themselves. The author explains the importance of families working together and ensuring good networks, or circles of support, of people who care about what happens. The article emphasises that the experiences of individuals and their families are central to an understanding of how to ensure a good life now and in the future, and provides examples of initiatives for people with learning disabilities and their families. The author reports that her son, now 23 years old, was one of the first people in the country to self-direct his own support.
Social capital through workplace connections: opportunities for workers with intellectual disabilities
- Authors:
- HALL Allison Cohen, KRAMER John
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Social Work in Disability and Rehabilitation, 8(3-4), July 2009, pp.146-170.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
Disability research now emphasises community participation, inclusion, and integration, with recent thinking shifting away from formal support systems to community support. This qualitative study examined the experiences of individuals with intellectual disabilities in sheltered workshops and compared them to those in community employment. In particular, the study investigated how employment affects opportunities for the creation of social capital, with social capital referring to relationships between individuals and benefits and resources that are mutually produced from those relationships. Primary respondents were twenty nine individuals with intellectual disability, and secondary respondents were twenty three family members and twenty nine employment services staff. Findings revealed that a form of social capital was created through workplace connections. Community employment did not increase social capital per se, but it did produce social opportunities not available in the workshop. The authors note that the role of family members emerged as critical in the support of community employment and its potential for social capital development.
Exploring perceptions of family relationships by individuals with intellectual disability and psychiatric disorders
- Authors:
- WIDMER Eric D., KEMPF-CONSTANTIN Nadine L., CARMINATI Giuliana Galli
- Journal article citation:
- Families in Society, 91(4), October 2010, pp.378-384.
- Publisher:
- The Alliance for Children and Families
This article explores the ways in which individuals with intellectual disability (ID) and psychiatric disorders perceive their family relationships compared with the perceptions of those relationships by family members. The study used social network methods as it focused on perceptions of a large number of family relationships of individuals with ID rather than specific family dyads. The participants were 17 individuals with mild ID and psychiatric disorders who were patients at the University Hospital of Geneva, Switzerland. Each participant was interviewed and completed the Family Network questionnaire. The first family member that they cited was also interviewed. A third group, a comparison nonclinical group of 17 individuals, matched for age and sex with the clinical group were also interviewed. The results showed that the clinical group, compared with comparison nonclinical individuals, perceived their family as presenting less emotional support and fewer influential relationships, but the same number of conflict relationships. For the most part, the interviews with family members confirmed these results, confirming that the patients had a very limited set of supportive relationships. However, there were some significant differences in the perceptions between patients and their family members, with family members perceiving additional relationships that the patient did not perceive. The importance of these findings for research on family relationships of individuals with ID is discussed.
When parents relinquish care: informal support networks of older people with intellectual disability
- Author:
- BIGBY Christine
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 10(4), 1997, pp.333-344.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Adults with intellectual disability lack the two key providers of informal support in later life, children and a spouse. Using semi-structured interviews this qualitative study examines the informal support networks of 62 older people with intellectual disability who had left parental care after mid-life. Findings indicate that, for this subgroup of older people, normative family roles such as 'protector' and 'facilitator' were fulfilled by informal network members despite the absence spouses or children.
Informal care networks of older adults with an intellectual disability
- Authors:
- PROSSER Helen, MOSS Steve
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 9(1), 1996, pp.17-30.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Describes a study of people with intellectual disability over the age of 40 years who were still living with relatives in the family home. Previous studies have revealed that there exist different types of social networks and that identifying network type and available informal support is important for planning effective service delivery. The main focus of this investigation was on the structure and characteristics of informal support networks and the pattern of support that occurred.
The structure of care networks in families with mentally handicapped adult dependents
- Author:
- GRANT Gordon
- Publisher:
- University College of North Wales. Department of Social Theory and Institutions
- Publication year:
- 1986
- Pagination:
- 24p., tables, bibliogs.
- Place of publication:
- Bangor
-
Circles of support and personalisation: exploring the economic case
- Authors:
- PERKINS Margaret, et al
- Publisher:
- London School of Economics and Political Science. Personal Social Services Research Unit
- Publication year:
- 2014
- Pagination:
- 17
- Place of publication:
- London
This small-scale study examines the economic case for Circles of Support as way of enabling people with disabilities to live a good life in the community and have greater choice and autonomy in meeting their needs. It also looks at the ways in which Circles have been used, they type of support they can provide, the outcomes achieved and costs incurred. The research was conducted as part of a wider study to assess the economic case for community capacity-building initiatives. Face-to-face interviews were conducted with Circle members: the person with disabilities (where possible), a primary informant (usually a parent) and another Circle member to find out how and why the Circle was set up and how it supported the person with disabilities to have as full and independent life as possible in the community. Circle facilitators were also interviewed to understand their role in providing the planning tools to enable the Circle to best support the person with disabilities. Quantitative data on recent health and social care service use were collected to develop ‘economic pen pictures’ of the five Circles. Informants considered the Circle had impacted positively on the individual’s quality of life. Circles supported care packages which appeared to provide successful alternatives to residential care. Commissioners may wish to explore further how Circles can be an additional approach to personalisation to support people with disabilities to live as independently as possible in the community. (Edited publisher abstract)
Commentary on "Love is simply not enough"
- Author:
- WILLIAMS Val
- Journal article citation:
- Tizard Learning Disability Review, 17(1), 2012, pp.32-35.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
Drawing on research findings and recent policy about personalisation to consider factors influencing the development of effective family and professional partnerships, this paper provides a commentary on Tomlinson's article about the development of a circle of support for her son, who has learning disabilities. The paper argues that in some cases families have been undermined by authorities responsible for providing support, and emphasises the importance of local authorities working more effectively with family carers and the voluntary sector. It also notes that although a lifelong caring role may be a positive choice for some families, not every family wants or is able to lead support services for their own disabled relative so it should not be a requirement.