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A positive couple therapy model: improving relationships for people with intellectual disabilities
- Author:
- MUNRO J. Dale
- Journal article citation:
- Advances in Mental Health and Intellectual Disabilities, 5(5), 2011, pp.34-39.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
The author describes a model of couple intervention specifically developed for helping people with intellectual disabilities who are experiencing relationship problems. The Positive Support – Couple Therapy model recommends assessing and working not only with the couple, but also with extended family and the service system. An agency staff member, familiar with the couple, is often asked to act as co-therapist. Private couple therapy sessions have proven extremely valuable, along with specific strategies that focus on management of issues such as anger and jealousy, sexuality issues, ways partners can complement and compensate for each other's weaknesses, healthy boundary-setting, having fun, and utilising psychiatric consultation if necessary.
Friendships and relationships in easy words and pictures
- Author:
- CHANGE
- Publisher:
- Change
- Publication year:
- 2010
- Pagination:
- 29p.
- Place of publication:
- Leeds
Friendships and Relationships is one of a series of five accessible booklets about sex and relationships produced for young people with learning disabilities. It covers making friends; starting, developing and ending relationships; making choices; and personal safety. The booklet uses easy words and drawings and can be used to support open discussion about friendships and relationships. The topics in the series are based on research conducted by CHANGE with the Centre for Disability Studies at Leeds University. They have been developed by young people with learning disabilities.
Working for a change?
- Authors:
- JAHODA Andrew, BANKS Pauline, DAGNAN Dave
- Journal article citation:
- Learning Disability Today, 10(8), October 2010, pp.35-37.
- Publisher:
- Pavilion
- Place of publication:
- Hove
Supported employment is a common route to work for people with learning disabilities. In theory, it involves careful job assessment to match individual’s strengths and wishes to potential jobs. This article provides an overview of a study which examined the impact of moving into supported employment on the quality of life and emotional well-being of people with learning disabilities. The 49 participants were recruited from 24 supported employment schemes in Scotland. They worked between 3 and 38 hours a week, with an average of 16 hours. Their jobs were mainly entry level posts in retail, catering, office/administration, factory and domestic work. A number of self-report measures were completed to examine whether there were any changes to the participants’ mental health, social lives, and quality of life when they started work. In addition, the participants took part in 2 semi-structured interviews; the first when they started supported employment and the second 9 months later. The results of the self-report measures showed no changes of note at follow-up. However, the semi-structured interviews provided insight into the participants’ perceptions of work and how their views about employment changed. The article concludes that there was little evidence of people with learning disabilities in work experiencing increased social interaction either within or outside of the work setting. Struggles with work can also raise people’s awareness of the limits of their abilities.
Making connections
- Authors:
- OGI Laura, BARBER-LOMAX Lisa, BOYDEN Paul
- Journal article citation:
- Learning Disability Today, April 2010, pp.31-35.
- Publisher:
- Pavilion
- Place of publication:
- Hove
People with learning disabilities may struggle to find opportunities and ways to develop friendships due to limited social skills and difficulties in understanding the complicated world of human relationships. This article describes a relationships group set up in south Birmingham to help people with learning disabilities understand different types of relationships, how these are made and maintained, and why we like some people more than others. The group programme was comprised of 10 sessions with specific aims under the headings: the understanding of self, the understanding of others, the understanding of different levels of relationships, and the understanding of choices. Although the group was originally open to both men and women, the majority of referrals to the group were for men, and the outcome was a single sex group with 6 members. This article discusses the development in relationships between members and the extent to which interactions increased over time. It also discusses the key themes discussed by the members, including their feelings of being labelled disabled and their lack of employment opportunities.
You, your body and sex
- Authors:
- LIFE SUPPORT PRODUCTIONS, (Producer)
- Publisher:
- Life Support Productions
- Publication year:
- 2008
- Pagination:
- DVD, booklet
- Place of publication:
- London
This DVD has been developed for people with learning disabilities and special needs in support of general sex education. Contents include: growing up, periods, masturbation, relationships, loneliness, safer sex, consent and saying no, sex and people's attitudes. Viewing notes and a list of useful contacts are included.
My pregnancy, my choice: a guide to pregnancy in pictures and easy words
- Author:
- CHANGE
- Publisher:
- Change
- Publication year:
- 2008
- Pagination:
- 436p.
- Place of publication:
- Leeds
This easy read publication uses pictures and easy words provide information to people with learning disabilities and people who find reading hard about pregnancy. It has been developed in cooperation with parents with learning disabilities and aims to help people make choices about their pregnancy. Coverage includes knowing you are pregnant, antenatal care and classes, how your baby develops, health, feelings and relationships, problems in pregnancy, labour and birth, and the first weeks after birth. A word bank which provides definitions of medical terminology is included
Lonely hearts need a helping hand
- Authors:
- CARSON Iain, BLYTH Craig
- Journal article citation:
- Learning Disability Today, 10(2), April 2009, pp.18-21.
- Publisher:
- Pavilion
- Place of publication:
- Hove
A research study into the support people with learning disabilities need to develop and sustain friendships and personal relationships is described. Data was collected via group and individual interviews with 58 men who identified as having learning disabilities. The findings are summarised under the headings of: developing and sustaining friendships; sex and romantic relationships; and support. Recommendations for action are provided.
Sex and relationships for people with learning disabilities: a challenge for parents and professionals
- Author:
- GARBUTT Ruth
- Journal article citation:
- Mental Health and Learning Disabilities Research and Practice, 5(2), October 2008, pp.267-276.
- Publisher:
- South West Yorkshire Mental Health NHS Trust and University of Huddersfield
This paper considers some of the issues around sex and relationships for people with learning disabilities. It is essentially a discussion paper, highlighting previous research, and information about the rights of people with learning disabilities to have sex and relationships. It particularly focuses on concerns for parents and some implications for professional practice that have arisen from a research project that is trying to find out more about the issues. The main messages coming from parents within the research project is that there is a need for clear, concise information about sex and relationships for young people with learning disabilities and there is also a need for professionals to give parents more support.
Predictors of life satisfaction in individuals with intellectual disabilities
- Authors:
- MILLER S.M., CHAN F.
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 52(12), December 2008, pp.1039-1047.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
The purpose of this study was to examine factors that predict life satisfaction in individuals with intellectual disabilities (ID). Two groups of variables were studied: life skills (interpersonal, instrumental and leisure) and higher-order predictors (social support, self-determination and productivity). Fifty-six participants with ID were recruited from two community agencies in Wisconsin. Data were collected using both a self-report inventory, which was administered to each individual in an interview format, and a behaviour rating scale, which was completed by a knowledgeable staff member. Hierarchical regression was used to analyse the data. Both sets of variables were found to explain a significant amount of the variance in life satisfaction. Within the sets, social support and interpersonal skills were individually significantly associated with life satisfaction. It is hoped that the results of this study will help support providers organise services in such a way that maximises the life satisfaction of the consumers that they serve.
Colleagues' perception of supported employee performance
- Authors:
- CRAMM Jane-Murray, TEBRA Nelleke, FINKENFLUGEL Harry
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Policy and Practice in Intellectual Disabilities, 5(4), December 2008, pp.269-275.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
The authors investigated whether supported employees are perceived on an equal basis within the workplace by their nondisabled worker colleagues. Three types of social relationships were considered in a workplace context ("work acquaintances","work friends", and "social friends") in order to examine whether the types of social relationships that develop between supported employees and their coworkers may reveal information regarding the level of equality between them and the level of integration enjoyed by the supported employees. Semi-structured interviews were held with coworkers of supported employees and were used to determine the extent to which supported employees become socially integrated. Specifically examined was the progression from "work acquaintances" to "work friends" and ultimately to "social friends." It was found that although all workplace colleagues without disabilities considered supported employees to be at least "work acquaintances", some of them identified supported employees as "social friends."