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People with an intellectual disability living in an intentional community
- Authors:
- RANDELL M., CUMELA S.
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 53(8), August 2009, pp.716-726.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Hospital closure programmes in England have generally sought to attain a fulfilling life for people with an intellectual disability by locating them in domestic-style housing in urban settings. Few have been placed in intentional or 'village' communities. Yet comparative studies of different housing types have found that intentional communities have better or similar outcomes for their residents than dispersed housing or residential clusters on former hospital sites. A possible explanation is the distinctive pattern of social relationships that exist in many intentional communities and the impact this has on the lives of their residents. This paper reports the results of research that explores the perceptions of people with an ID living in an intentional community and the meaning of their community to them. The research used an ethnographic approach to interview a sample of 15 residents in a large intentional community (Botton Village), which is part of the Camphill Movement. Interviews used Makaton, pictures and symbols where required. Respondents included 10 men and 5 women aged between 38 and 78 years. Length of residence in Botton Village ranged from 5 to 50 years. All lived with the families of co-workers and valued these relationships. All but one (who had retired) worked in a diverse range of employment in the village. Almost all were positive about their work. Respondents reported that they took part in both individual and communal leisure activities and all but two had a network of friends. Opportunities for friendship were enhanced by proximity to other people with an ID and a sense of personal security in the village. As in many villages and communities in society in general, these advantages were balanced by some loss of privacy. Results confirm those from earlier studies of intentional communities and suggest that positive outcomes derive from the absence of the overt subordination of residents to staff, the facilitation of friendship with other people with an ID, high levels of meaningful employment and a sense of community. These factors contrast with the experience of living in small homes funded on a contractual basis by public authorities, in which cost pressures reduce wage levels for staff resulting in difficulties in retaining suitable staff and a consequent high staff turnover.
Developing wellbeing as a critical tool in social work education: an example from the field of learning disability
- Author:
- SIMPSON Graeme
- Journal article citation:
- Social Work Education (The International Journal), 31(5), 2012, pp.622-636.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
The paper explores the use of ‘wellbeing’ in social work education, focusing on the personalisation agenda in relation to people with moderate to severe learning disabilities. First, the policy framework for people with a learning disability in England is analysed through a discussion of ‘normalisation’ and the ‘social model of disability’. There follows a brief thematic analysis of these policies and also those of social work education, identifying the relative absence of wellbeing. The paper develops arguments for including wellbeing in social work education. It proposes a teaching model developed around 3 themes: relationships and friendships; community engagement (including education, work and health); and structural context. The importance for social workers of exploring aspects of community, in its widest sense, is emphasised, contrasting with a narrower view presented in policy implementation. It argues that, through a focus upon wellbeing, practitioners and students can develop a more critical engagement with the current narrow focus of the personalisation agenda, whilst promoting the needs of this service user group. The application of wellbeing as a practice and analytical concept therefore provides a framework for a critically reflective and engaged practice.
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.
Measurement of community participation and use of leisure by service users with intellectual disabilities: the Guernsey community participation and leisure assessment
- Author:
- BAKER Peter A.
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 13(3), 2000, pp.169-185.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Community integration is now an important guiding service provision for people with intellectual disabilities. This article describes the Guernsey Community Participation and Leisure Assessment (GCPLA). The GCPLA is a comprehensive assessment of community participation and the use of leisure produces both quantitative and qualitative data. A study comparing use of their community by service users and a staff control group showed that the service users had a smaller range of activities, were less busy and were more likely to access their communities in the presence of staff or carers, rather than alone or with friends. Discusses suggestions for the use of GCPLA including individual planning, service evaluation and training.
Life in the community
- Author:
- HERSOV Eve Kuhr
- Journal article citation:
- Values into Action, 97, 1999, pp.6-8.
- Publisher:
- Values into Action
The author reflects on the essence of good practice in supporting people with learning difficulties to live full lives.
Voices of youths on engagement in community life: a theoretical framework of belonging
- Authors:
- RENWICK Rebecca, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Disability and Society, 34(6), 2019, pp.945-971.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
Little is known from the perspectives of youths with intellectual and developmental disabilities themselves about their experiences related to inclusion, engagement in community life and friendship, and their quality of life. The Voices of Youths research project used an inclusive approach to learn from youths about these experiences. Twenty-four youths (age 13–24 years) with a range of intellectual and developmental disabilities diagnostic ‘labels’ participated in three video-recorded, community-based interviews. Constructivist grounded theory data analysis revealed a theoretical framework comprising the core concept of belonging and four associated concepts: engaging with similar people, having social relationships, negotiating meaningful roles, and navigating norms and expectations – finding a good fit. The findings contribute new knowledge about the ways in which these youths experience a sense of belonging from their own perspectives and can inform development/enrichment of policies, programmes, and services for these youths. (Edited publisher abstract)
The community links of a sample of people with intellectual disabilities
- Authors:
- HALL Louise, HEWSON Simon
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 19(2), June 2006, pp.204-207.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
In 1995, an unpublished study (S. Hewson & C. Waters) showed that the community links of residents in 11 local National Health Services (NHS) trust houses were meagre, despite the service's stated commitment to community presence and participation. The 1995 study was repeated for the same 11 houses in 2002 to examine whether any changes had occurred. A test–retest design, with repeated measures was used, involving, as closely as possible, the same participants at two time points. Community links referred to the time residents spent outside their house, and the time unpaid visitors spent inside the house in the presence of the residents. The results found the community links of the people studied were no better in 2002 than in 1995. The findings question whether current service provision can deliver policy objectives for social inclusion for people with intellectual disabilities.
Life members: women with intellectual disabilities and aging
- Author:
- WALSH Patricia Noonan
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Gerontological Social Work, 38(1/2), 2002, pp.121-135.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
Reviews some of the dilemmas faced by women with intellectual disabilities as they age and are trying to stake out a place in their communities. The article draws on recent testimony of older women themselves, their carers and advocates about optimal paths to healthy ageing. The author suggests that more flexible, individualized forms of support are likely to enhance the quality of longer lives and that supports for women with intellectual disabilities can be appraised in terms of efficacy in strengthening women's membership of their respective communities as they age. The author speaks to the implications for best practice on the part of professionals and othercarers who work with and support women as they age and proffers suggested research strategies for future women's studies.
Health, age, and gender: how do women with intellectual disabilities fare?
- Author:
- ANDERSON Deborah J.
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Gerontological Social Work, 38(1/2), 2002, pp.137-159.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
The 1994-1995 Disability Supplement to the National Health Interview Survey (administeredto a representative sample of the U.S. population) was analyzed for women age 30 and older with intellectual disabilities (ID), developmental disabilities (DD) or both, in order to describe their functioning as they aged in the community. Definitions of ID and DD consistent with professional and legal standards were developedand adapted to the NHIS-D questions. An estimated .56% of the approximately 77 million civilian, noninstitutionalized, women age 30 and older in the United States have one of these disabilities. Compared with women in general,women with these disabilities had negative perceptions of their health status, particularlywomen with DD and health indicators tended to support their perceptions. Most were independent in activities of daily living , but instrumental activities of daily living posed more of a callenge, and limitations in major activities were common as was a high rate of distress and psychosocial difficulties.
A natural locally-based networking approach for singleton disabled elderly: implementation and case illustration
- Authors:
- KAM-SHING Yip, SUNG-ON Law
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Social Work, 32(8), December 2002, pp.1037-1049.
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
The Good Neighbour Centre of the United Christian Nethersole Community Health Service in Hong Kong has implemented a natural locality-based supportive networking approach for disabled singleton elderly in a public estate (1991-2000). As part of this approach, various psycho-social interventions were developed over nine years to strengthen mutual support among neighbours, able-bodied elderly, outpatients suffering from mental illness and volunteers who were matched and integrated with the disabled singleton elderly person to form a locality-based naturally supporting community. Different stages of developing a natural, supportive community by networking were identified in this project: network assessment, network matching, network formation and network strengthening. The concepts of stable and constant mutual support, mutual development and mutual concern were stressed. Feedback from stakeholders was encouraging and the demonstrated improvement in the functional and psycho-social well-being of disabled singleton elderly and mental health outpatients was impressive and clear.