Perspectives of people with intellectual disability about their family networks: A comparison study with key support worker proxy reports

Parents' perceptions of risk and protective factors for problematic sexual behaviour in young Korean individuals with developmental disabilities

BACKGROUND

Limited data exist on problematic sexual behaviour (PSB) in youth with developmental disabilities in South Korea.

METHOD

Sixty-one parents of children with intellectual disabilities or autism spectrum disorder (aged 13-30) reported children's PSB and emotional, behavioural, cognitive, and interpersonal factors. The frequency of PSB in children with developmental disabilities was verified, and various factors' effects on PSB were examined through multiple linear regression analysis.

RESULTS

There were no significant differences in PSB levels between children based on sex and age group. The externalising tendency and a history of family conflict predicted higher PSB. In contrast, protective factors had no significant predictive effects.

CONCLUSIONS

PSB may vary depending on emotional and interpersonal factors, as well as cognitive deficits. Our findings emphasise the importance of interventions for PSB that consider both intrapersonal and interpersonal aspects.

Informal Network Members' Perspectives and Experiences on Work for People with Intellectual Disabilities: A Thematic Synthesis

PURPOSE

The level of participation of people with intellectual disabilities (ID) in various forms of work, including daytime activities, appears to be suboptimal. Informal networks of people with ID constitute crucial forms of support, as they can significantly influence occupational choices and opportunities. This review aims to synthesize existing research for the purpose of examining how informal network members perceive the meaning of employment or daytime activities for their relatives with ID.

METHODS

Following the PRISMA guideline, a systematic search of scientific literature published between 1990 and July 2022 was conducted. The qualitative results from twenty-seven studies (qualitative and mixed-method) were analyzed using thematic synthesis.

RESULTS

Four overarching themes and several subthemes were identified: (I) Ensuring customized work for my relative; (II) The ongoing need to collaborate and share care responsibilities with professionals; (III) The meaning of work for both my relative and myself; and (IV) Achieving full work participation for my relative is neither straightforward nor self-evident.

CONCLUSIONS

Informal networks place great value upon customized and sustainable work opportunities for their relatives with ID, particularly community-based work. While network members play an important role in creating these opportunities, they encounter obstacles resulting from both collaboration difficulties with professionals and employers and public and structural forms of stigma. Researchers, professionals, policy makers, and employers are encouraged to collaborate with individuals with ID as well as their networks to increase the meaningful work opportunities available to them.

Using an ecological approach to grasp the complexity of social inclusion around a person with a disability

BACKGROUND

Mapping social inclusion often focuses merely on a specific aspect of interpersonal relationships or community participation and is often executed from one perspective (either the person with a disability or a proxy).

OBJECTIVE

This paper explores whether the ecological model of Simplican, Leader, Kosciulek and Leahy (2015) can serve as a basis to develop an instrument that maps a variety of influencing enabling and disabling variables on both interpersonal relations and community participation, including the input of persons with a disability, network members and professionals.

METHODS

Directed content analysis was used to apply the ecological model to 14 cases of persons with a disability in independent supported living.

RESULTS

The ecological model proved to be a useful framework to map enabling and disabling factors of social inclusion in individual cases. Additions were made to the model, including adding a new level of 'dynamics' to grasp the dynamic reality of social inclusion. Different informants gave partly overlapping information, but the integration of the three perspectives was an added value for understanding social inclusion in all its complexities.

CONCLUSIONS

This paper serves as a first step in developing an in-depth instrument to map social inclusion.