Adolescence et déficience intellectuelle. Approche clinique de jeunes accueillis en Institut médicoprofessionnel (IMPro) ou en unité pédagogique d’intégration (UPI)

Abstract

This article highlights the main results of a research work exploring firstly the adolescent life experience of young people affected by learning disability attending a vocational rehabilitation centre (Institut médicoprofessionnel or IMPro) or a specialized teaching unit (unité pédagogique d’intégration or UPI) within the lower secondary school structure and secondly the tools allowing this sector of the population to be better understood. While privileging the point of view of these young persons, it builds on a cross methodology using individual and/or group interviews, combined with the use of mediation tools and direct observations. Analysis of the results shows that these young people express their adolescence-linked desires but the resources and means at their disposal to achieve the “psychic work” related to the adolescent process are limited. Various factors can explain this situation, especially the social and educative environment, with notable differences between UPI and IMPro. The adolescents show too that they can actively influence their future development as persons in their own right and that they cannot be reduced to the exclusive influence of external factors. Furthermore, methodological considerations stressed the importance and interest of asking the young with learning disabilities about their life and bring to the fore the difficulties involved in understanding them through the instruments of research and conventional clinical tools.