Using photovoice with people with intellectual disability to illuminate definitions of health and factors influencing participation in health promotion.

Abstract

Understanding the daily health experiences of people with intellectual disability is necessary to illuminate factors that may be influencing health and health disparities. The objective of this study is to understand how people with intellectual disability participate in and access health promotion. Ten adults with intellectual disability engaged in an adapted photovoice study. Four themes emerged: Health Is Who We Are; Health is What We Do; Health Is Our Body, Mind, and Place; and Barriers and Facilitators. Participants communicated an understanding of health, a strong identity of themselves as being healthy, and diverse participation in health promotion. Additionally, participants identified specific resources and support necessary to pursue health. Participants' broad description of health aligns with understandings of the social determinants of health. Participant's holistic view of health and experienced factors of health promotion should inform the development and implementation of inclusive health programming for people with intellectual disability.