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Social work with marginalised people who have a mild or borderline intellectual disability: practicing gentleness and encouraging hope
- Authors:
- ELLEM Kathy, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Australian Social Work, 66(1), 2013, pp.56-71.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
People with mild or borderline intellectual disabilities are a group of people who usually do not meet the eligibility criteria for specialist disability services. They may traverse many services, often entering, exiting, and returning to the same service providers with few positive results. This article explores the practice approach of the Meryton Association, a medium-sized non-government agency located in Brisbane, Australia. The Association provides social work support to people with mild to borderline intellectual disabilities, actively assisting this group to build relationships, resources, knowledge, and autonomy in their everyday lives. Using qualitative in-depth interviews with 11 Meryton Association staff and analysis of Meryton Association policy and practice documents, the challenges and opportunities of using this practice approach are documented. The authors propose that specialist services are needed that use a developmental approach, stress the importance of relationship, and the need to practice gentleness and hope in social worker-client interaction.
The use of photovoice with people with intellectual disabilities: reflections, challenges and opportunities
- Authors:
- POVEE Kate, BISHOP Brian J., ROBERTS Lynne D.
- Journal article citation:
- Disability and Society, 29(6), 2014, pp.893-907.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
Photovoice is part of the growing use of participatory research approaches with people with intellectual disabilities. In this paper we explore the process, opportunities and challenges associated with the use of photovoice with people with intellectual disabilities, illustrated through a research project entitled ‘This Is Me’. Photovoice requires researchers to share power and control in the research process and to tolerate uncertainty. Large investments in time and money are also required. These challenges, however, are outweighed by the benefits of the use of photovoice with people with intellectual disabilities. Photovoice creates a space where people with intellectual disabilities can meaningfully participate and exert control in the research process, and as such is an empowering experience. As a participatory research approach, photovoice is accessible and offers the opportunity for people with intellectual disabilities to develop new skills, confidence and experience inclusiveness in their own terms. (Publisher abstract)
Allocating homes for people with intellectual disability: needs, mix and choice
- Author:
- WIESEL Ilan
- Journal article citation:
- Social Policy and Administration, 45(3), June 2011, pp.280-298.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Noting that in social housing, allocation of vacant placements is controlled by policies and guidelines with which decision-makers are required to comply, this article aims to examine the tensions between considerations of needs, mix and choice in allocations policy. It is based on information from a research project about housing choice when allocating housing for people with intellectual disability in the state of Victoria, Australia. The project included semi structured interviews with over 50 people involved in policy formulation, decisions concerning housing allocations, providing housing and support, and advocacy for people with intellectual disability. The article draws on analysis of, and examples from, the interviews to discuss elements in the allocation process, focusing on tensions between needs and choice, between needs and mix, and between choice and mix. The author suggests that recognising the interrelationships between needs, mix and choice is a possible way forward in developing a new understanding of what these concepts mean in the context of allocation policies, to guide future reforms in the social housing sector.
“They need to be able to have walked in our shoes”: what people with intellectual disability say about National Disability Insurance Scheme planning
- Authors:
- COLLINGS Susan, DEW Angela, DOWSE Leanne
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disability, 44(1), 2019, pp.1-12.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
Background: Planning is a key mechanism by which the Australian National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) ensures individuals with disability have choice and control over supports. People with intellectual disability will comprise the largest NDIS participant group and many will need assistance to engage in planning. In order to respond effectively, NDIS planners must understand the decision-making support required by individuals. Method: Focus groups were conducted with 9 adults with intellectual disability living in an NDIS trial site to explore their experiences of NDIS planning. Results: Thematic analysis identified 6 themes related to good planning experiences for people with intellectual disability: preparation, learning from mistakes, personal growth, and having a credible, consistent, and disability-aware planner. Conclusions: Participants who developed a trusting relationship with a planner used planning to increase independence and social participation. Planner skills, particularly communication and sector knowledge, and attributes such as warmth and openness created trust. (Edited publisher abstract)
Conundrums of supported living: the experiences of people with intellectual disability
- Authors:
- BIGBY Christine, BOULD Emma, BEADLE-BROWN Julie
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disability, 42(4), 2017, pp.309-319.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
Background: Dissatisfaction with the inflexibility of the group home model has led to the growth of supported living that separates housing from support and is thought to have greater potential for better quality of life outcomes. Comparative studies have had mixed findings with some showing few differences, other than greater choice in supported living. By investigating service user experiences of supported living this study aimed to identify how the potential of supported living might be better realised. Method: Thirty-four people with intellectual disability participated in 7 focus group interviews and 6 people in an individual interview. Data were analysed using grounded theory methods. Results: Although participants experienced greater choice and control over their everyday lives, they did not feel they controlled the way support was provided and experienced restrictions on lifestyle associated with low income. Despite their use of community places and varied social connections to family, friends, and acquaintances, most experienced loneliness. Conclusions: If the potential of supported living is to be realised, shortcomings of support arrangements must be addressed by, for example, greater consistency of support worker skills, consumer control over recruitment and rostering, and more skilled support to build friendships and manage difficult relationships. (Publisher abstract)
Retirement or just a change of pace: an Australian national survey of disability day services used by older people with disabilities
- Authors:
- BIGBY Christine, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disability, 29(3), September 2004, pp.239-254.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
Definitions of old age selected by researchers should reflect differences in culture and life expectancy within and between developing and developed nations. Fifty-five years was used to denote older people in both the Australian national survey and a Victorian study. Consequently, 55 years and older has been used to denote older people in this study. people with a lifelong disability are discussed. A postal survey of 596 day programmes for people with disabilities was conducted, with a response rate of 28%. Findings show that only 19% of service users were aged over 55, and the largest subgroup were people with intellectual disability. Many older people attended programs that were not age specific and a typology of the seven program types utilised was constructed. Individualised planning, flexibility and choice were perceived as fundamental to a successful program. The location of activities in the community, maintenance of social relationships, and opportunities to develop new contacts were also seen as important. Little understanding, however, of the diversity of the ageing process or notions of healthy ageing was demonstrated by service providers, many of whom had limited expectations of older people. Challenges identified in providing day support for older people were lack of financial resources, knowledge and expertise amongst staff, and difficulties interfacing with other service systems.
Communicating with people with an intellectual disability in guardianship board hearings: an exploratory study
- Authors:
- SHADDOCK A.J., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disability, 23(4), 1998, pp.279-293.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
People with an intellectual disability are frequently involved in various meetings about their welfare. These meetings range from formal, e.g. Guardianship Board Tribunals, to somewhat informal, e.g. meetings to plan and educational programme. Very often, those who attend these meetings do not know the person well - in fact they may be meeting the person for the first time. This article describes Australian research on a strategy (know as Biala) for ensuring that the participants in such forums interact sensitively and communicate effectively with the person with a disability.
Access to mental health services: the experiences of people with intellectual disabilities
- Authors:
- WHITTLE Erin Louise, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 32(2), 2019, pp.368-379.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Background: People with intellectual disability experience higher rates of mental health disorders than the rest of the population, and expert opinion holds that multiple barriers prevent people with intellectual disability from accessing appropriate services. Methods: A qualitative study was designed to explore the lived experience of barriers and enablers to access to mental health services among people with intellectual disability. Interviews and focus groups were conducted with people with intellectual disability, carers and service providers. Results: Barriers and enablers were identified across four key dimensions of access: utilisation of services; service availability; relevance, effectiveness and access; and equity and access. These factors operated at both systemic and personal levels. Conclusions: The findings from this study provide empirical evidence of anecdotal experiences of access to mental health services and provide insight into the ways users, carers and service providers navigate an often hostile system and indicate further directions for research. (Edited publisher abstract)
Enhancing support for the mental wellbeing of parents of children with a disability: developing a resource based on the perspectives of parents and professionals
- Authors:
- GILSON Kim-Michelle, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disability, 43(4), 2018, pp.463-472.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
Background: Raising a child with a disability can place significant strain on the mental wellbeing of parents and carers. This study developed a mental wellbeing resource specifically for parents and carers of children and adolescents with a disability. Methods: Interviews with 20 parents and carers and 13 health and disability service professionals were conducted to determine resource content and format. Results: Key information areas for the resource were information about parent/carer wellbeing; understanding the barriers to wellbeing, including lack of support, being unable to ask for help, being isolated from the community, and having insufficient time or income to spend on self; suggestions on how to organise respite; and opportunities for increasing wellbeing. Conclusions: Given parental mental health is key to the quality of life of the child and family, it is recommended that the resource is distributed to parents and professionals, and adapted for different cultural and linguistic backgrounds. (Publisher abstract)
Fumblings and faux pas: reflections on attempting to engage in participatory research with people with an intellectual disability
- Authors:
- DOROZENKO Kate P., BISHOP Brian J., ROBERTS Lynne D.
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disability, 41(3), 2016, pp.197-208.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
Background: Reflexivity is fundamental to developing methodologically and ethically sound research and is particularly important for researchers exploring experiences of oppression. Method: The authors offer reflections on the process of engaging in participatory research with people with an intellectual disability (ID). A reflexive journal was maintained throughout the duration of a research project that used photovoice and conversational interviewing to explore the identities and social roles of 18 members of an advocacy agency for people with ID.Results Challenges and tensions arose throughout the research process, including difficulties reproducing “ideal” participatory research, issues of informed consent, and tensions surrounding the beneficiaries of the research. Broader social processes were mirrored in interactions with the members, and damaging stereotyped identities were unknowingly imposed. Conclusions: Self-awareness and critical reflection is necessary to ensure that the existing power relations in traditional disability research (and wider society) are not replicated during the research process. (Edited publisher abstract)