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Promoting social scaffolding behaviors in staff members and peer‐directed behaviors among persons with profound intellectual and multiple disabilities: an intervention study
- Authors:
- NIJS Sara, VLASKAMP Carla, MAES Bea
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Policy and Practice in Intellectual Disabilities, 15(2), 2018, pp.124-135.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Persons with profound intellectual and multiple disabilities (PIMD) present limited peer‐directed behaviours toward their peers with PIMD. It is not clear how staff can facilitate and promote the mutual peer‐directed behaviours between persons with PIMD. The study explores if peer‐directed behaviours among persons with PIMD can be increased by an intervention that is focused on training the staff in providing social scaffolding behaviours toward their clients. An A‐B‐B′‐C design was used in this study. A baseline condition was followed by two intervention conditions and a follow‐up. Four staff members participated in a training in which they were informed about peer interactions in persons with PIMD and learned how to promote these interactions. They developed a peer interaction supportive activity. This activity was provided to two persons with PIMD for 10 weeks. Social scaffolding behaviours of staff as well as peer‐directed behaviours of persons with PIMD were coded during videotaped observations. A significant increase of social scaffolding behaviours of staff members was observed during the intervention with a significant decrease at follow‐up. Significantly, more singular and fewer multiple peer‐directed behaviours of persons with PIMD were observed during the intervention. Both singular and multiple peer‐directed behaviours decreased again at follow‐up. A short training of staff members already positively affects their social scaffolding behaviours and increases the amount of peer‐directed behaviours of persons with PIMD. However, the amount of both behaviours decreased again at follow‐up. This argues to broadly apply this training in services and schools for persons with PIMD and to complement it with continuing staff coaching on this topic. (Edited publisher abstract)
Adaptation of Flemish services to accommodate and support the ageing of people with intellectual disabilities
- Authors:
- MAES Bea, VAN PUYENBROECK Joris
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Policy and Practice in Intellectual Disabilities, 5(4), December 2008, pp.245-252.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
The authors attempted to find out to what extent and in which ways, in Belgium, have Flemish services for people with intellectual disability adapted to the specific needs of aging people. A study was undertaken and a questionnaire was developed to address the following research topics: (1) accommodations and personnel, (2) staff working methods, and (3) staff views and attitudes. The questionnaire was completed by 66 coordinating staff members in as many facilities. At the time of the study, these services supported 310 (27%) persons with Down syndrome age 40 years and older and 833 (73%) persons with intellectual disability (other than Down syndrome) age 55 years and older. Adaptations in accommodation and personnel management were obvious in the majority of the participating services. The working methods reflected a person-centred philosophy, regardless of the age-factor. An exploratory factor analysis revealed three different staff approaches: an activating/socializing, disengaging, and methodical. Participation in activities and involvement in social relations have a prominent place in the staff's views. In general, the authors found that about two-thirds of the services have started to modify their accommodation and personnel to the needs of aging people with intellectual disability. The authors note also that the results suggest there is still a lot of work to do in improving staff training, introducing specific working methods, and in altering stereotypical staff attitudes to assure a good "aging in place."