Search results for ‘Subject term:"learning disabilities"’ Sort:
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Improving mental health services for people with intellectual disabilities: service users' views
- Authors:
- O'BRIEN Alex, ROSE John
- Journal article citation:
- Advances in Mental Health and Intellectual Disabilities, 4(4), December 2010, pp.40-47.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
It is widely considered that people with intellectual disabilities are more likely to experience mental health problems than people in the general population. The aim of this study was to seek the opinions of people with an intellectual disability who have additional mental health needs about the mental health services they receive. A semi-structured focus group methodology was used to ask the 8 participants about all aspects of the mental health services they receive, including inpatient facilities, professional contact, the support received in residential or supported living settings, and day opportunities. Four key themes were generated from the findings: views about being in hospital: good vs crap; ‘it hurt me when…’: responses of other to their difficulties; meaningful activity and employment; and needing help and support vs control. Overall, it was found that the participants valued staff who listened to them and actively tried to help with their difficulties. They also wanted choice and control over their lives, particularly with regard to meaningful day activities.
“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)
“Everyone thought I was a very very bad person… no one want to know you like the nurses and doctors”: Using focus groups to elicit the views of adults with learning disability who use challenging behaviour services
- Authors:
- HAYDON-LAURELUT Mark, et al
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Learning Disabilities, 45(4), 2017, pp.253-258.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Accessible summary: 1) The authors wanted to find out what adults with learning disabilities who receive challenging behaviour services thought about challenging behaviour and the services they receive; 2) They met with people in small groups and talked with them about challenging behaviour; 3) There were barriers to attending the groups like services not having enough staff or transport. People in the groups told us what they thought of words like challenging behaviour, what they understood about challenging behaviour services, and what it was like meeting with them. Background: Following scandals such as Winterbourne view, Department of Health, (A national response to Winterbourne View Hospital, 2012) seeks changes in challenging behaviour services. A key part of this change is ensuring people with learning disabilities who use challenging behaviour services have more personalised support and their voices are heard. Materials and Methods: This article describes a study that used focus groups to explore challenging behaviour and challenging behaviour services with people with learning disabilities who used community-based challenging behaviour services. The authors analysed the focus groups using thematic analysis. Results: The authors found three main themes: Engaging with service terminology: the language of Challenging Behaviour; Locating and Framing behaviour; and Engaging with Professionals. Conclusion: People with learning disabilities who receive challenging behaviour services are able to participate in focus groups and tell us about their experiences. Further consideration is required concerning how people with learning disabilities experience their engagement with challenging behaviour services. This study has led to a larger study currently in progress. (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)
How do people with intellectual disabilities view abuse and abusers?
- Authors:
- NORWAY Ruth, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Intellectual Disabilities, 17(4), 2013, pp.361-375.
- Publisher:
- Sage
- Place of publication:
- London
This article explores the views of people with learning disabilities regarding abuse. Data were gathered via individual interviews (n = 14) and focus groups (7 groups involving 47 people in total), which were then analysed via a process of sorting statements into themes followed by group discussion and analysis of these themes. Participants expressed a range of views regarding abuse, some of which revealed strong emotions: a number of participants indicated that abuse could make people feel as though their lives are not worth living. The study found that people with intellectual disabilities can discuss their feelings around abuse and recognise the impact this has on their lives. There is, however, a need for improved responses to disclosures of abuse and the provision of ongoing support to address psychological issues. (Edited publisher abstract)
Family voices: life for family carers of people with intellectual disabilities in Ireland
- Authors:
- CHADWICK Darren D., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 26(2), 2013, pp.119-132.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Families in Ireland remain the main providers of support for people with Intellectual disabilities, and the aim of this study was to map their life experiences whilst involving their family members as co-researchers. The qualitative, participatory study involved 10 focus groups attended by 70 parents and siblings of people with intellectual disabilities. Data were analysed using thematic analysis. Caring for a family member with intellectual disabilities was found to be a dynamic and adaptive process. The well-being of the family and the challenges they face throughout their lives was the central theme identified. This was affected by: the availability of appropriate supports for families and having to advocate for them, communication and relationships with services and professionals, the availability of information and attitudes towards disability and governmental support. Strategies are suggested as to how services can better support family carers in Ireland in their role. These include families being provided with flexible and timely support for families at critical times; being offered services, support, entitlements and information without having to fight for them; knowing that their family member with intellectual disabilities is well cared for, listened to and provided with opportunities to develop and be part of the community; and carers being shown respect, listened to and involved in decisions. (Edited publisher abstract)
Supporting people with intellectual disabilities to take part in focus groups: reflections on a research project
- Author:
- LLEWELLYN Penny
- Journal article citation:
- Disability and Society, 24(7), December 2009, pp.845-856.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
It is hypothesised that support offered to people with intellectual disabilities who take part in research might affect the resultant data. A total of 23 people with intellectual disabilities from a long-stay hospital, a day centre and a self-advocacy group, all in the UK, participated in focus groups during a research project on nurse advocacy. Their supporters were staff employed by those services who were familiar with and to the group members. Analysis of the focus group data revealed how attitudes of the supporters to their clients affected both the interactions of participants and the resultant information. The support given to participants reflected the ethos of the services involved, relating either to the medical or the social model of disability. The author argues that the philosophy of care influencing supporters of research participants with intellectual disabilities may have profound effects on the support provided. It may facilitate or inhibit open exchange of information; it may also aid clarification or cause contamination of the resultant data.
Service users leading the way: focus group methodology in developing accessible information DVDs with people with learning disabilities
- Authors:
- BOYDEN Paul, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Intellectual Disabilities, 13(3), September 2009, pp.183-194.
- Publisher:
- Sage
- Place of publication:
- London
Service users are no longer seen as passive recipients of health services, but rather as active partners in the delivery of accessible resources. A DVD for and made by people with mild learning disabilities has been developed by South Birmingham Primary Care Trust (PCT) describing the psychology services available and what would happen if people with learning disabilities see a clinical psychologist. This article describes the methodology and outcomes when three focus groups of people with learning disabilities met to evaluate the accessibility, level of understanding and clarity of the DVD content. Rated positively by the focus groups, only minor changes were made to the final DVD. The authors encourage the use of focus groups as an appropriate and valuable tool when obtaining the views of people with learning disabilities.
A valid point of view
- Author:
- HEWITT Olivia
- Journal article citation:
- Young Minds Magazine, 96, September 2008, pp.32-33.
- Publisher:
- YoungMinds
Briefly reports on research which used two focus groups to explore the views of young people with learning disabilities about emotional issues.
Perspectives of constraining and enabling factors for health-promoting physical activity by adults with intellectual disability
- Authors:
- TEMPLE Viviene A., WALKLEY Jeff W.
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disability, 32(1), March 2007, pp.28-38.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
Physical activity influences health in individuals and within populations. This study explored factors perceived as enabling or inhibiting participation in physical activity by adults with intellectual disability from a health promotion perspective. Six focus group interviews were conducted: adults with intellectual disability (1 group, n = 9), direct care workers (1 group, n = 5), group home supervisors (2 groups, n = 9 and n = 6), managers (1 group, n = 4), and parents (1 group, n = 7) in the State of Victoria, Australia. Three major themes were identified from the focus group interviews: motivation for participation, social support, and political and financial support. The most critical issue was the lack of clear policies. Both day training centres and accommodation services would benefit from development of policies related to health-promoting physical activity. Flowing on logically from the development of policy would be much needed training and support of staff.