An ethnography exploring the limits of dedifferentiation in the lives of adults with intellectual disabilities

C A Banks,R Gooberman-Hill,D Wainwright

doi:10.3109/13668250.2020.1799161

C A Banks, R Gooberman-Hill + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3109/13668250.2020.1799161

Copy DOI

Abstract

ABSTRACT Background: Dedifferentiation refers to the trend of positioning people with intellectual disabilities together with other disabled individuals for political purposes, to act as a counter to differentiated approaches. This article explores the influence of dedifferentiation in professional support settings through the lived experiences of people with intellectual disabilities and their staff. Methods: Ethnographic research, including participant observation and interviews, conducted with an intellectual disability social care provider and an independent community café, both based in an area of England. Results: Tensions exist between dedifferentiation aims and the lived experiences of people with intellectual disabilities, who often struggled to achieve in areas including independent community inclusion and paid employment. Conclusion: Dedifferentiation has disadvantages for people with intellectual disabilities. It can underestimate and mask needs that people experience in relation to their disabilities. Policy and professional support might be improved by (1) recognising these limits and (2) incorporating people’s real-world needs into support provision.

Highlights

Dedifferentiation refers to the trend of positioning people with intellectual disabilities together with other disabled individuals for political purposes, to act as a counter to differentiated approaches
We have presented ethnographic material from intellectual disability support settings, showing how people in receipt of support and their staff experienced policies and services that have been influenced by the dedifferentiation approach to position people with intellectual disabilities on equal footing with other citizens who do not have intellectual disabilities
We explored how people with intellectual disabilities and their staff experienced policy objectives in the context of support that has been influenced by a dedifferentiation perspective

Summary

Introduction

Dedifferentiation refers to the trend of positioning people with intellectual disabilities together with other disabled individuals for political purposes, to act as a counter to differentiated approaches. This article explores the influence of dedifferentiation in professional support settings through the lived experiences of people with intellectual disabilities and their staff. Methods: Ethnographic research, including participant observation and interviews, conducted with an intellectual disability social care provider and an independent community café, both based in an area of England. Results: Tensions exist between dedifferentiation aims and the lived experiences of people with intellectual disabilities, who often struggled to achieve in areas including independent community inclusion and paid employment. Conclusion: Dedifferentiation has disadvantages for people with intellectual disabilities. It can underestimate and mask needs that people experience in relation to their disabilities. Policy and professional support might be improved by (1) recognising these limits and (2) incorporating people’s real-world needs into support provision

Objectives

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion