A study of overprotection in the lives of persons with intellectual disability in Malta was carried out on the principles of inclusive research. Focus groups were held with people with intellectual disability, parents of people with intellectual disability, and those working with persons with intellectual disability. Overprotection is a disabling barrier. Its effects were identified in employment, leisure time, intimate relationships, and the use of public transport, money, and mobile phones. People with intellectual disabil-ity who experience overprotection live very structured lives. They cannot develop their skills, abilities, and potential. Furthermore, they cannot live their life on their own terms, but on terms determined by others. This creates a sustained dependence on others, especially the family. It is important that a balance is achieved between protection and enabling support. Persons with intellectual disability should be given the support they need to express their wishes and act on them.Despite overt policies of 'rights' and an 'ordinary life' the trend of policy is thus for people with learning difficulties to lead lives of extraordinary regulation (Riddell, Baron, and Wilson 2001, 200)

This reflective piece is co-authored by four members of an inclusive research team, who have been working on a project that aims to create an online resource with a video curriculum vitae of individuals with intellectual disability to showcase their achievements and skills. Taking the view that conducting research inclusively is a dynamic and ongoing process, we discuss our experiences in implementing the project and the steps we took to ensure that the process was as inclusive as possible. We first present an overview of the aims of the project and what we have achieved so far. We then provide our individual perspectives on the experience of being involved in the project so far and how inclusive it has been. Together, we then reflect on the main outcomes of the project so far, on the factors that affected how we implemented it, and on how we plan to work towards the last phase of the project.

Background This article presents an overview and discussion of the main developments in the lives of persons with intellectual disability in Malta over the last 70 years in residential services, education, employment, friendships and relationships, culture, sport and leisure activities, having a say in one's own life and how people look at persons with intellectual disability. It also discusses who were the people who played important parts in these developments. Materials and Methods The article is written by an academic and two self‐advocates with lived experience of intellectual disability. The first author wrote the literature review tracing developments in the disability sector in Malta. These topics were then discussed by the three authors. Results Thanks to these developments, persons with intellectual disability can live more independently in their community and develop their potential, including the ability to speak for themselves. However, many persons with intellectual disability do not have a say over how they live their lives and experience a lot of control. Very often, it is other people who decide for them. Persons with intellectual disability should enjoy relationships in which they are cared for and they care for others. They should also play an important part in the development of services that are aimed at them. Conclusions The authors composed a poem which reflects the main issues that the two self‐advocates consider to be the most important: support, other people's attitudes and knowing what persons with intellectual disability want.