Participation Opportunities for Adults With Intellectual Disabilities Provided by Disability Services in One Australian State

Abstract

The participation of service users in the planning and delivery of disability services is an unequivocal ideal in many countries. However, making the shift from espoused ideals of participation to effective, credible involvement of people with disability and families in agency planning and delivery is often challenging and not fully realized. The authors undertook a study to discern the nature and extent of service user participation opportunities within a range of organizations that provide disability services in one Australian state. A “snapshot” of how services are involving service users and their families, carers, and advocates in all aspects of their service, including service planning, development, and delivery, was obtained via a mailed survey instrument. Some 200 agencies or services receiving funding from the state government participated in the survey. Findings reveal that service providers overall are providing a broad range of opportunities and activities for service user participation in the service, but their effectiveness is variable across different organizations and subject to differing conditions. The authors concluded that characteristics of the service, the community, and the service users and their families, carers, and advocates, all influence the dynamic environment for participation.

Improving the participation of adults with visual and severe or profound intellectual disabilities: A process evaluation of a new intervention

“…In addition, no efforts were made to change or introduce new social roles for adults with VSPID that could enhance their participation. These findings are in line with those of other studies, which also showed that direct support professionals (DSPs) in residential facilities experience difficulty developing new social roles for individuals with intellectual disabilities [17,18]. Because adults with severe or profound intellectual disabilities are highly dependent on their environment and the support they receive from others [3], a possible explanation for their limited participation could lie in the attitudes and resources of DSPs.…”

People With Intellectual Disability and Social–Political Life Participation: A Commitment to Inclusive Policies in Less Developed Countries

“…In the last centuries, disability concepts entailed religious and even supernatural explanations. However, a number of Western cultures later moved toward more scientific notions of disability within a “medical model of disability.” Introduction of the medical model changed the previous strange notions and set up the society to help people with disabilities in having a better world (Chenoweth & Clements, ). However, after the industrial revolution, people with disabilities were marginalized because of low productivity and lack of functionality (Oliver, ).…”

“…Given the above, community awareness about social life of people with ID is limited in LDCs where the proposed pathways of social–political inclusion can have a number of important implications. For instance, it is recommended to identify people with ID as an important public policy priority and focus on their empowerment and social and economical needs and resources (Berkson, ; Chenoweth & Clements, ; Stainton, ). In an effective approach to social life participation of people with ID, the social model of disability should be culturally adapted in LDCs.…”

People with intellectual disabilities as business owners: A systematic review of peer‐reviewed literature

“…Internationally, employment has been widely acknowledged as a means of lifting people out of poverty and dependence on government assistance as well as promoting social and economic inclusion (World Health Organization, 2011). Australia, in line with other countries such as the UK, Canada and the United States, has now adopted an individualised funding model for people with disabilities with the stated aim of providing greater choice and control over the supports they receive (Chenoweth & Clements, 2011; Reddihough et al, 2016). Australia's funding model, the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), was funded in large part based on expectations that the scheme would improve the economic participation rates of people with disabilities and allow more carers to also work (Productivity Commission, 2011).…”