The Quality of Life of Adults with Developmental Disabilities and Their Families in Calgary Canada: A Pilot Study

Abstract

Abstract-This pilot study investigated the level of satisfaction in a number of life domains in addition to the overall life satisfaction experienced by group of individuals with developmental disabilities in Calgary. This study also examined the quality of life of their families who are often impacted the continuing responsibilities, concerns and anxieties related to their adult child with developmental disabilities. The average ratings from the family and individual responses across the various life domains were computed. The inter-relationships between the dimensions of family quality of life across the various life domains included in the quality of life assessment were also calculated. Understanding these associations may be helpful in identifying supports and policies that enhance individual and/or family quality of life. Finally, the connections between individual and family quality of life were identified to highlight any areas where changes in supports or services to either families or their adult children with intellectual disabilities would support the wellbeing of all family members.

Establishing and Maintaining Couple Relationships as Perceived by Couples with Intellectual Disabilities: Implications for Families, Support Staff, and Policy Change

“…A humanistic approach (Reiter, , ) includes the aspiration to provide adults with ID accessibility to a full and meaningful life (United Nations, , pp. 13–14), as well as the opportunity to achieve a life of quality (Clark et al, ). The present study examined couple relationships among adults with ID to better understand participants' experience and identify supports for enabling such relationships.…”

“…This provision follows from the assumption that every human being is a social being, and as such, quality of life derives in large part from the fabric of social and interpersonal relationships (Reiter, , ), including couple relationships. Based on the humanistic approach (Reiter, ), support for individuals with ID consists of resources and strategies that protect their interests and increase their well‐being, thus contributing to greater autonomy, independence, inclusion in the community, and improved quality of life (Clark, Geake, Smith, Greiner, & Yost, ). Support for engagement in couple relationships should be no exception.…”

Family Quality of Life in Practice: A Practical Application of the Fqol-2006 Survey

“…Lastly, a family's resource needs gradually change across lifespans, affecting both the primary supporters and their family member with a disability. Therefore, research has examined the FQOL of families with children with developmental disabilities (Brown, MacAdam-Crisp, Wang, & Iarocci, 2006), parents and siblings with a family member with intellectual disability (Werner et al, 2009), and adults with developmental disabilities and their families (Clark, Geake, Smith, Greiner, & Yost, 2013). Within this literature, however, there is as yet little research that attempts to integrate the FQOL-2006 survey into a practical service model for disability professionsservice providers, advocacy organizations, and support programmers.…”