Engagement in community life: perspectives of youths with intellectual and developmental disabilities on families’ roles

Personal support networks of young people with and without intellectual disability. A comparative study

BACKGROUND

Previous studies show that the personal support networks of people with intellectual disability are smaller and less diverse than those of people without intellectual disability. This article aims to compare the characteristics of the personal networks of young people with and without intellectual disability.

METHOD

The Personal Network Analysis (McCarty, Revista Hispana Para El Análisis de Redes Sociales, 2010, 19, 242-271) was applied. The participants comprised 51 young people aged between 13 and 19, of whom 27 had an intellectual disability. The Egonet programme was used to compile information, and SPSS v.27 for the statistical analysis.

RESULTS

Young people with intellectual disabilities have smaller personal networks than people without disability, while they also comprise more people with disability and fewer 'friends' and support people.

CONCLUSIONS

The full social inclusion of people with intellectual disability requires schools, families, the community and the individual to work together to develop activities that help them initiate and maintain relationships, prioritising mainstream contexts.

Facilitating virtual social connections for youth with disabilities: lessons for post-COVID-19 programming

PURPOSE

Social connections are essential for the development of life skills for youth. Youth with disabilities have long faced barriers to meaningful social connections. The onset of COVID-19 increased barriers to social connections for all youth, and also led to enhanced use of virtual platforms in paediatric rehabilitation programming. Harnessing this opportunity, service providers created a suite of online programs to foster social connections and friendships. The current study explores participant and service provider experiences of such programs.

METHODS

This qualitative descriptive study used interviews and focus groups to explore how youth with disabilities (n = 8), their parents (n = 7), and service providers (n = 13) involved in program development and delivery experienced the programs, the accessibility of the virtual platforms, and their social connections in relation to program participation.

RESULTS

Participants were satisfied with the programs' content, accessibility and ability to meet their social needs. Qualitative themes included facilitating social connections, accessibility of virtual spaces, and recommendations for future virtual programming.

DISCUSSION

For youth with disabilities who have been historically marginalized in social spheres, the newly ubiquitous infrastructure regarding virtual programming must be supported and enhanced. A hybrid approach involving virtual/in-person options in future programming is recommended.

Facilitators of Sense of Belonging Among People With Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities: A Systematic Review

Background: This review synthesizes the available literature regarding factors which facilitate a sense of belonging in people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and provide a comprehensive integrative view of the subject. Methods: Four electronic databases were searched, and 13 studies met inclusion criteria for review. The "standard quality assessment criteria for evaluating primary research papers from a variety of fields" indicated satisfactory quality. Factors which facilitate a sense of belonging in people with intellectual and developmental disabilities were analyzed into themes. Results: Sense of belonging is enhanced by feeling respected, accepted, and valued (Subjectivity). These experiences are more likely to be achieved in a familiar and safe environment (Dynamism), and with access to platforms for social interactions (Groundedness), where a sense of relatedness and connectedness achieved by shared experiences with others (Reciprocity). Sense of belonging is associated with committed action of people with disability, taking assertive action or being agentic (Self-determination). Conclusion: Sense of belonging is a unique concept that should be addressed in disability research and practice.

Personal Support Networks of Young People with Mild Intellectual Disabilities during the Transition to Adult Life

Social support networks occupy a priority position requiring attention in the processes of social inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities, during their transition to adult life. The objective of the study was to analyze social support from a relational approach through Personal Network Analysis. A total of 41 young people with mild intellectual disabilities participated in the study, in two groups differentiated according to their educational stage, either compulsory secondary education or post-compulsory training. Descriptive and comparative results are presented based on the variables of structure, composition, and functional content in the social support of their personal networks. The results show that both groups have restricted personal networks, made up of members of the family and the educational environment who constitute the main providers of support. When moving towards adult life, the change in social contacts in other educational, geographical, and relational settings may mean a change in the provision of support received in previous life stages. Developing social and educational actions to support these people in the development and maintenance of social relationships is essential to their access to support resources that will affect their social inclusion.

"So, I told him to look for friends!" Barriers and protecting factors that may facilitate inclusion for children with Language Disorder in everyday social settings: Cross-cultural qualitative interviews with parents

PURPOSE

Although researchers have explored parental perspectives on childhood speech and language disorders, this work has mostly been conducted in English-speaking countries. Little is known about parental experiences across countries. Participation in the COST Action IS1406 'Enhancing children's oral language skills across Europe and beyond' provided an opportunity to conduct cross-cultural qualitative interviews. The aims were to explore how parents construe inclusion and/or exclusion of their child and how parents involve themselves in order to facilitate inclusion.

METHOD

Parents from nine countries and with a child who had received services for speech-language disorder participated in semi-structured qualitative interviews. We used thematic analysis to analyze the data.

RESULTS

Two overarching themes were identified: 'Language disabilities led to social exclusion' and 'Promoting pathways to social inclusion'. Two subthemes were identified Interpersonal relationships are important and Deliberate proactiveness as stepping stones for social inclusion.

CONCLUSIONS

Across countries, parents report that their children's hidden disability causes misunderstandings that can lead to social exclusion and that they are important advocates for their children. It is important that the voices and experiences of parents of children with developmental disabilities are understood and acknowledged. Parents' recommendations about how to support social inclusion need to be addressed at all levels of society.

Belonging through sport participation for young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities: A scoping review

BACKGROUND

Research suggests that sport facilitates belonging for diverse athletes. This scoping review characterizes literature on sport participation and belonging for young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A search of five databases identified 17,497 articles. Selected articles (N = 39) underwent data extraction and analysis guided by a theoretical framework of belonging, outlining four processes through which belonging is experienced by individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

RESULTS

Articles originated from developed countries and in the context of Special Olympics (N = 17). Studies commonly used qualitative interviews with proxy respondents. While all studies described at least one belonging process, only 11 studies applied the term "belonging," and no study defined the construct.

CONCLUSION

Belonging is not well-conceptualized in sports literature for athletes with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Understanding belonging through sport participation for this population may inform sport-based policies and programming.