Family Reintegration of Homeless Persons with Intellectual Disabilities: Case Series Reflecting Opportunities and Challenges

Abstract

Persons with Intellectual Developmental Disorder (IDD) are overrepresented in homeless populations. Rehabilitation needs of persons with IDD, who are homeless, are diverse; one of their most important emotional needs is the desire to be reunited with their families. 12 adolescents from Children’s Home for the Mentally Retarded under the Department of Women and Child Development, Government of Karnataka—were referred to the Psychiatric Rehabilitation Services unit of a tertiary mental health institute for vocational training in 2016. Over the next 2 years, 5 of them were reintegrated with their family. Attempts were made at obtaining information about family from the adolescents despite challenges in language, communication and cognitive abilities. Various resources were utilized for reintegration, such as the use of Google maps to locate and mark all places recalled; access to the details of station house officers across websites to contact police departments; the utilisation of websites such as those of telecom providers, Election Commission of India, khoyapaya.gov.in; obtainment of contact details of community and religious leaders; and use of video call and WhatsApp. Expressive language deficits, greater severity of intellectual disability, longer duration of separation from family were significant barriers to attempts at reintegration. There is a need to make persistent attempts and repeated attempts to reintegrate homeless persons with IDD, even in the face of initial failure, to obtain any family details, and to use all resources at disposal including technology, in addition to fulfilling other rehabilitation needs which are in the foreground.