The identities and social roles of people with an intellectual disability: challenging dominant cultural worldviews, values and mythologies

Abstract

Intellectual disability is commonly conceptualised as stigmatised identity with which one has to live. However, within the literature the notion of a damaged identity is contested. The aim of this research was to explore the social construction of intellectual disability, with an emphasis on the identities and social roles of people with an intellectual disability. Informed by a contextualist perspective, this research was conducted within a participatory framework. The co-researchers involved in this research were 18 Members of an Advocacy Agency. Photovoice and conversational interviewing were used to collect data and causal layered analysis was used to deconstruct the data. Analysis of the interactions that emerged across the causal layers revealed a complex dynamic of worldviews which served to construct people with an intellectual disability as incompetent, inherently different, and not quite human. For genuine, transformative change to occur, developing an awareness and understanding of social processes, such as dehumanisation, is crucial.

‘I accept my son for who he is – he has incredible character and personality’: fathers’ positive experiences of parenting children with autism

“…Further, such statements echo results from Dorozenko, Roberts, and Bishop's (2015) study in which staff working with adults with intellectual disability framed individuals identities in terms of agency and ability rather than deficit and incompetence.…”

Fumblings and faux pas: Reflections on attempting to engage in participatory research with people with an intellectual disability

“…Upon much reflection, we have concluded that we are undoubtedly the main beneficiary of this research. I have obtained data to complete my PhD, had the opportunity to present the research at two international conferences, and we have published about the process (Povee et al, 2014) and outcomes (Dorozenko et al, 2014) of the research. I also feel that throughout the research project, I…”

“…Causal layered analysis (Inayatullah, 1998), an indepth, multilevel analysis that enables the factors that perpetuate social issues to be identified through the interaction of several different levels of understanding, was used to analyse both the Member and staff interview data. For a detailed description of the research process and a summary of the research findings, please see Povee, Bishop, and Roberts (2014) and Dorozenko, Roberts, and Bishop (2014).…”

An exploration of parental decisions to transfer children from regular to special schools

“…In particular, the classification of intellectual disability has been described as a "deeply devalued social category" (Dorozenko et al, 2015(Dorozenko et al, , p. 1346, the worst diagnosis that a child could receive (Knight, 2013), and the label most despised and avoided (Lalvani, 2015). It is clear that this is a label that has the potential to be profoundly stigmatising, and indeed, research suggests this is so.…”

“…It is widely accepted that people with disability are at risk of leading impoverished lives (Harley, Mpofu, Scanlan, Umeasiegbu, & Mpofu, 2015). To further categorise someone as having an intellectual disability puts people at an even greater risk of being stigmatised (Dorozenko, Roberts, & Bishop, 2015) and treated badly (Emerson, 2013). Described as "disregarded", "incapable", "forgotten" (Lyons & Cassebohm, 2012, p. 80), individuals with intellectual disability have long been subject to marginalisation (Burrell & Trip, 2011) and damaging service responses such as segregation and congregation (see, for example, Blatt & Kaplan, 1974).…”