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Background There is scant research on the subject of dysphagia and people with intellectual disabilities. This study explores the barriers which caregivers believe make following Speech and Language Therapists' (SLTs) dysphagia management strategies more difficult. Method Semi-structured open-ended interviews were conducted with 46 caregivers who supported 40 intellectually disabled adults with dysphagia. Results Caregivers perceived particular difficulties in modifying food and drinks to safe consistencies, achieving the agreed positioning during mealtimes, and in using support and prompting strategies. Problematic support and prompting strategies included difficulties with pacing correctly; facilitating people to adequately relax and concentrate; observing and prompting people to pace suitably and take safe amounts of food and drink in each mouthful. Additional barriers identified included time pressures, staff turnover and insufficient reviewing of SLT management strategies by caregivers. Conclusions Findings suggest that additional training and monitoring is required to ensure caregivers are aware of their role and responsibility in promoting safe oral intake for adults with dysphagia and intellectual disabilities. Ongoing support is suggested for people with intellectual disabilities and dysphagia to help them understand the reasoning behind management strategies.

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The families of 26 adults with autistic spectrum disorders (ASDs) who either lived at home or maintained close contact with their families were interviewed about their social and psychological needs related to caring for the person with ASD. In contrast to previous studies of familial carers of children with ASDs, a strong association between parental emotional distress and unmet need was found. Parents also reported a need for more autism-specific intervention and support for adults with ASDs. The study illustrates the continuing and underreported role of families in supporting adults with ASDs.

Liberation Social Psychology (la psicología social de la liberación, LSP) has developed amongst a body of psychologists in Latin America over the last decade. There has been no survey of the field in English, although some of the ideas are of relevance for those working with oppressed groups elsewhere in the world. This article explores the context in which LSP grew from the work of Ignacio Martín-Baró and was developed by Maritza Montero, amongst others. Within LSP, key concepts emerge, including 'conscientization', 'realismo-crítico', 'de-ideologization', a social orientation, 'the preferential option for the oppressed majorities' and methodological eclecticism. The application of LSP is explored with reference to three domains. First, it is suggested that community social psychology as practised in some parts of Latin America reflects LSP in its emphasis on social transformation and participatory methods. Second, psycho-social work with victims of state oppression, which adopts a highly social and societal orientation embodies LSP. Third, social analyses which explicitly adopt socio-psychological-political analyses of the social realities confronting countries in Latin America embrace, in different ways, principles and concepts of LSP. RESUMENLiberation Social Psychology (la psicología social de la liberación, LSP) ha sido desarrollado por un movimiento de psicólogos en América Latina durante la última década. No existe un estudio de este campo en inglés, aunque algunas de sus ideas tienen relevancia para los que trabajan con grupos oprimidos en otras regiones. Este articulo explora el contexto en que la LSP. creció desde los trabajos de Ignacio Martín-Baró y fue desarrollado por Maritza Montero, entre otros. En la LSP surgen conceptos claves que incluyen conscientización, realismo crítico, desideologización, marco social, opción preferencial por las mayorías oprimidas, y la eclectismo metodológico. La aplicación de la LSP va dirigida a tres áreas. En primer lugar se sugiere que la psicología comunitaria practicada en algunos lugares de América latina refleje la LSP en su énfasis en la transformación social y el uso de métodos participativos. En segundo lugar, el trabajo psicosocial con víctimas de la opresión estatal, enfocado al nivel de la sociedad, es ejemplo paradigmático de la LSP. En tercer lugar, los análisis político-psico-sociales de la realidad de los países latinoamericanos toman en cuenta, de manera diversa, los principios y conceptos de la LSP. Se discuten algunos de los retos que enfrenta la LSP, y se recomienda el diálogo abierto entre la LSP y los psicólogos críticos, comunitarios y sociales aplicados.