Search results for ‘Subject term:"learning disabilities"’ Sort:
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An evaluation of a community living initiative in Ireland
- Authors:
- SHEERIN Fintan, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Intellectual Disabilities, 19(3), 2015, pp.266-281.
- Publisher:
- Sage
- Place of publication:
- London
One of the central principles underpinning Irish intellectual disability policy is that of decongregation. Allied to this is the belief that life in community settings offers greater opportunities and richer experiences than does life in institutional settings. This study explores the experiences of a group of adults with intellectual disabilities who moved from residential settings to living units in the community. Using a qualitative descriptive approach, it considers the significance of that move for them and seeks to understand the extent to which their lives have changed. Whereas it emerges that this was a positive period in their lives, it is clear that a number of issues remain to be addressed and these provide useful information for similar developments in the future. (Publisher abstract)
Researching together
- Author:
- JOHNSON Kelley
- Journal article citation:
- Learning Disability Today, November 2008, pp.28-30.
- Publisher:
- Pavilion
- Place of publication:
- Hove
The author describes three examples of inclusive research with people with learning disabilities carried out in the Republic of Ireland. The examples show that real outcomes and valuable outcomes can be delivered. The projects involved services in rural Ireland; studying as a student at University and research around bullying and advocacy.
Relocating people with intellectual disability to new accommodation and support settings: contrasts between personalized arrangements and group home placements
- Authors:
- McCONKEY Roy, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Intellectual Disabilities, 20(2), 2016, pp.109-120.
- Publisher:
- Sage
- Place of publication:
- London
Internationally the relocation of people with intellectual disability from institutions has brought significant gains to their quality of life. This study contrasted three groups of persons in Ireland who moved either to personalised arrangements (n = 29) or to community group homes (n = 31) with those who remained in congregated settings awaiting relocation (n = 29). Persons moving to rented accommodation with personalized support tended to be younger and had fewer support needs than those in group homes. They had greater control and choice in their lives, more community engagement and increased personal relationships compared to residents in group homes but those remaining in congregated settings fared worse of all. However, average staff costs were significantly higher in the latter settings. The implications for the future provision of group living arrangements are discussed along with the need for further longitudinal research to assess the sustained impact of personalized arrangements and their funding. (Edited publisher abstract)
Characteristics, supports, and quality of life of Irish adults with intellectual disability in life-sharing residential communities
- Authors:
- FAHEY Aine, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disability, 35(2), June 2010, pp.66-76.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
This study aimed to compare quality and outcomes for residents with intellectual disability across intentional communities such as those organised by the Camphill communities. The Camphill movement aims to create communities in which vulnerable children and adults can live, learn and work with others in healthy social relationships based on mutual care and respect. A cross-sectional design was used to gather data about the personal characteristics, nature, and quality of residential supports provided to residents, and quality of life outcomes for 29 adults living in two Camphill life-sharing communities in the South East region of Ireland. Comparable data were available for 125 adults in group homes or campus residences. The results showed that supports for Camphill residents were of good quality, expressed in smaller size of household, higher staffing ratios, homely living areas, low levels of institutionalised practices such as social distance, reciprocal relationships with houseparents, and well-developed management procedures. Less choice and involvement were reported in Camphill relative to group homes, but it is possible that the measures applied did not capture the community approach to decision making. The findings suggest that the Camphill residents experience a particular pattern of quality of life benefits focused on reciprocal relationships with co-residents who offer support.
Translating quality of life into service action: use of personal outcome measures in the Republic of Ireland
- Authors:
- McCORMACK Bob, FARRELL Margaret
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Learning Disabilities, 37(4), December 2009, pp.300-307.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
This survey assesses the current Quality of Life of adults across a range of service providers in Ireland, using the Personal Outcome Measures, as developed by the US-based Council on Quality and Leadership. A growing consensus exists regarding Quality of Life measures and their use to support person-centred planning and organisational development. This survey of 256 adults with intellectual disabilities was conducted across a range of 22 service providers in the Republic of Ireland. The aim of the survey was to estimate whether organisational processes are in place to support the achievement of personal outcomes of people with intellectual disabilities and to identify people's unmet priority outcomes. Results showed that, on average, participants had less than half their personal outcomes fully present at the time of the survey, and the number of personal outcomes present varied with the severity of the disability. Findings indicate: the need to further develop integrated services; to maintain people in their local communities rather than remove them into special settings; and develop more reciprocal relationships with communities. The results provide a baseline for Irish services against which to benchmark further progress. Newer service models, such as individualised service design, supported employment and supported living, offer this potential.
Positive behaviour support: what model of disability does it represent?
- Authors:
- GREY Ian, LYDON Helena, HEALY Olive
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disability, 41(3), 2016, pp.255-266.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
Positive behaviour support (PBS) has become well established as an intervention approach for individuals with intellectual disability and challenging behaviour. However, what remains unexplored is the relationship between PBS and the medical and social models of disability, which historically are the dominant conceptual frameworks put forward in understanding disability. This paper identifies the difficulties in exploring this relationship due to the often simplistic portrayals of such models. Though PBS has a change agenda, typically a characteristic of the medical model, it is change at an ecological level that is central to PBS. An analysis of the practices of PBS demonstrates a concern with pragmatically identifying the interaction between person and environment to reduce the occurrence of challenging behaviour. PBS practices are considered to be more aligned with a supports model because they build an individual ecology of support tied to meaningful quality of life outcomes for individuals with challenging behaviour. (Publisher abstract)
Role of music therapy in social skills development in children with moderate intellectual disability
- Authors:
- DUFFY Barbara, FULLER Ray
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 13(2), 2000, pp.77-89.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
This Irish study investigated the effectiveness of a music therapy programme in the enhancement of the social skills of children with moderate intellectual disability. Thirty-two children (between the ages of 5 and 10 years) from four intellectual disability centres participated. At each centre, four children were randomly selected to participate in the music therapy programme, while four children were assigned to a non-music control group programme. Five social skills were targeted for intervention: turn-taking, imitation, vocalisation, initiation and eye contact. The results reflect significant improvements in the five target social skills across both conditions following the 8-week intervention. However, this difference was found to be independent of the music/non-music intervention.