Eating together as a social network intervention for people with mild intellectual disabilities: a theory-based evaluation

Kasper Kruithof,Jeanine Suurmond,Janneke Harting

doi:10.1080/17482631.2018.1516089

Abstract

ABSTRACTPurpose: People with mild intellectual disabilities (MID) generally live independently among the wider community. This can result in social exclusion and feelings of loneliness. Therefore, social work organizations aim to socially include people with MID through organizing activities in neighbourhoods that should lead to enlarged networks and increased societal participation. The “Communal Table” is such a, group-orientated, intervention that organizes monthly dinners in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Because little is known about the effectiveness of interventions aiming to bring about social inclusion for people with MID we explored which types of participants were reached and whether and how the intervention brought about the intended outcomes.Methods: We performed a theory-based evaluation, using participatory observations and qualitative interviews (n = 19). The Communal Table attracted a diverse and loyal group of participants.Results: We distinguished four types of participants—lonely participants, activist participants, satisfied participants and calculating participants—whose pre-existing networks played a significant role in their individual needs for support and the outcomes of the intervention. Outcomes reported included experiences of conviviality and warmth, temporary relief of underlying problems and an overall positive opinion about the intervention, but network enlargement or increased societal participation were not reported.Conclusions: Our findings suggest that social network interventions for people with MID should be tailored to participants’ pre-existing networks and related individual needs to be successful.

Highlights

BackgroundSelf-reliance and societal participation are generally difficult to obtain for people with mild intellectual disabilities [MID] (Kwekkeboom, De Boer, Van Campen, & Dorrestein, 2006; Wilken, Medar, Bugarszki, & Leenders, 2014)
Because little is known about the effectiveness of interventions aiming to bring about social inclusion for people with MID we explored which types of participants were reached and whether and how the intervention brought about the intended outcomes
Since self-reliance, societal participation and taking responsibility for one’s own life are the main pillars of contemporary Western welfare societies (Newman & Tonkens, 2011), and deinstitutionalization is a trend in these societies (Braddock, Emerson, Felce, & Stancliffe, 2001; Coucouvanis, Lakin, Prouty, & Webster, 2006; Grunewald, 2003; Mansell, 2006; McConkey, Abbott, Walsh, Linehan, & Emerson, 2007; Stancliffe, Lakin, & Prouty, 2005), social work organizations have started to support people with MID in building social networks for support, so they can achieve societal participation and become more self-reliant (Newman & Tonkens, 2011)

Summary

Introduction

Self-reliance and societal participation are generally difficult to obtain for people with mild intellectual disabilities [MID] (Kwekkeboom, De Boer, Van Campen, & Dorrestein, 2006; Wilken, Medar, Bugarszki, & Leenders, 2014). They often lack social networks to support them in these respects (Robertson et al, 2001; Verdonschot, de Witte, Reichrath, Buntinx, & Curfs, 2009; Verplanke & Duyvendak, 2009). Little is known about the effect of social work interventions that aim to bring about network enlargement and increased societal participation for people with MID. The scientific knowledge gap contrasts with the general literature on social

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