Field Of Intellectual Disability Research Articles

Presidential Address, 2022-Dismantling Systemic Barriers: Re-Envisioning Equity and Inclusion.

Presidential Address, 2022-Dismantling Systemic Barriers: Re-Envisioning Equity and Inclusion.

Psychometric properties of the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale-Intellectual Disability version (WEMWBS-ID)

AimsMental wellbeing, encompassing dimensions of hedonia (feeling good) and eudaimonia (functioning well), is considered a valuable resource for individuals and communities. The Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale (WEMWBS; Tennant et al., 2007), a 14-item positively worded measure of mental wellbeing, has been extensively psychometrically validated within the UK and cross-culturally. However, it is yet to be validated for use with individuals with intellectual disabilities, a priority given the paucity of measures of mental wellbeing for this population. The aim of this study was to assess the psychometric properties of a newly adapted version of the WEMWBS and the Short 7-item WEMWBS (SWEMWBS) for individuals with mild to moderate intellectual disabilities (WEMWBS-ID/SWEMWBS-ID).MethodThe WEMWBS item wordings and response options were revised by clinicians and researchers expert in the field of intellectual disability, and a visual aid was added to the scale. The adapted version was reviewed by 10 individuals with intellectual disabilities. Individuals aged 16+ with mild to moderate intellectual disabilities were recruited using volunteer sampling. Data from three studies conducted in the UK were collated to evaluate the psychometric properties of the WEMWBS-ID (n=96) and additional data from a study conducted in Canada (n=27) was used in addition to the UK data to evaluate the SWEMWBS-ID (n=123). The WEMWBS-ID was administered by researchers via an online meeting using the screenshare function. A subsample (n=22) completed the scale twice for test-retest reliability. Furthermore, as a relationship between wellbeing and self-esteem has been demonstrated in previous research, 95 of the UK participants also completed an adapted 6-item version of the adapted Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES) to assess convergent validity.ResultsThe WEMWBS-ID demonstrated good internal consistency (α=0.86), excellent test-retest reliability (ICC=0.88) and good convergent validity (r=0.68) with the RSES. Confirmatory factor analysis supported the hypothesised one-factor structure and the measure demonstrated an adequate model fit. The SWEMWBS-ID showed poorer internal consistency (α=0.67), good test-retest reliability (ICC=0.67) and good convergent validity (r=0.61). The results from the confirmatory factor analysis indicated a good model fit.ConclusionsThe results from this initial evaluation of the WEMWBS-ID and SWEMWBS-ID suggest that the scales have promising psychometric properties, when administered by a researcher to individuals with mild to moderate intellectual disabilities. The generalisability of the findings is limited by the sample size and sampling strategy and a further exploration of the scales with larger samples is warranted. Suggestions for future research are discussed.

Factors that influence COVID-19 vaccination intentions amongst care-professionals in the field of intellectual disability: a scoping review.

The International Journal of Integrated Care (IJIC) is an online, open-access, peer-reviewed scientific journal that publishes original articles in the field of integrated care on a continuous basis.IJIC has an Impact Factor of 2.913 (2021 JCR, received in June 2022)The IJIC 20th Anniversary Issue was published in 2021.

The IDD Paradigm of Shared Citizenship: Its Operationalization, Application, Evaluation, and Shaping for the Future.

Changes in the field of intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) over the last 5 decades has resulted in the emergence of the shared citizenship paradigm. This paradigm is currently guiding the development of IDD-related policies and practices, and providing a framework for application, research-based inquiry, and evaluation. A shared citizenship paradigm is one that envisions, supports, and requires the engagement and full participation of people with IDD as equal, respected, valued, participatory, and contributing members of every aspect of society. The overall goals of the paradigm are to (a) further advance and focus on people with IDD as active agents in the change process, and (b) improve outcomes for people with IDD, including their access to and opportunity for shared citizenship. This article describes the paradigm's operationalization, application, evaluation, shaping for the future, and specific strategies to overcome implementation challenges.

Barriers to volunteering in the field of intellectual disability: a cluster analysis

This paper aims to characterise the profiles of individuals likely to feel discouraged to volunteer in the field of intellectual disability. The socio-emotional contours of intellectual disability hinder the involvement of volunteers in this field. There is evidence of the particular barriers to volunteering in activities involving intellectually disabled people, but there is a dearth of research on the characteristics of individuals that mention such barriers. A survey applied to 197 individuals allowed, through latent classes, to identify three clusters of individuals—assuming volunteering as having a negative impact; unawareness of the reality of intellectual disability; and no barriers to volunteering; and three groups of barriers to volunteering in the field of intellectual disability—characteristics of intellectually disabled people; awareness; introversion. Based on the characteristics of the clusters identified, the study addresses possible strategies to overcome the constraints, aiming at involving volunteers in activities targeting individuals with intellectual impairments and to better target the recruitment of volunteering actions in this field. The continuous understanding of barriers to donate time can allow institutions to minimise constraints and overcome hurdles by emphasising the value of experiences that meet the motivations of volunteers.

Prevalence of Secondary Traumatic Stress Among Direct Support Professionals in Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Field.

Direct support professionals (DSPs) are deemed by existing literature as vital support to persons with intellectual or developmental disabilities (IDD). They may be exposed to the traumatic experiences of people with IDD with potential psychological implications. Secondary traumatic stress (STS) has been studied among related professionals across human services, but little is known among DSPs. The current study examines the prevalence of STS in a sample of DSPs. The results suggested that DSPs are exposed to traumatic experiences, and exposure to a greater number of traumatized clients is significantly correlated with symptoms of STS. At least 12.4% of DSPs in this sample met the diagnostic criteria for experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. Also, results suggest STS differences in DSPs based on demographics.

Professional Responsibility in the Field of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities: Its Definition, Application, and Impacts.

This article addresses the need to clearly understand professional responsibility and the critical role it plays in the lives of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), in shaping professions for the better, and in enhancing the functioning of society for the benefit of all. Understanding professional responsibility is especially timely during the current transformation that is occurring in the field of IDD. To that end, the article discusses what is a profession, who is a professional, and what is professional responsibility. Using a logic model framework, the article describes the components of professional responsibility that include its building blocks such as respect for the person, professional ethics and standards, critical thinking skills, and clinical judgment; its use of nine professional practices including empowerment, evidence-based practices, individualized supports, and person-centered outcome evaluation; its outcomes in terms of mutual trust, the improved effectiveness of clinical functions, and professional accountability; and its impacts regarding individual benefit, professional integrity, and societal enhancement.

Quality of Life and the International Convention on the Rights of Persons With Disabilities: Consensus Indicators for Assessment.

The quality of life construct provides an ideal conceptual framework for translating such abstract concepts as self-determination, equity, accessibility, and inclusion. Through consultation with expert raters, we sought to develop and validate a bank of indicators and items, based on the quality of life conceptual framework, to be used as a means of evaluating and implementing the Articles of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). Thirty-two experts in the field of intellectual and developmental disabilities participated, rating the suitability, importance, and clarity of a bank of 296 items, as well as the relevance of controlling for 70 sociodemographic variables. After qualitative and quantitative analysis of the data, the final selection comprised 60 sociodemographic variables and 153 items that scored highly on all criteria and produced an excellent level of agreement between the experts. This bank of items and set of sociodemographic variables constitute the pilot version of a CRPD assessment and monitoring instrument with sufficient evidence of content validity, which may be useful in developing evidence-based practices and in detecting rights violations.

Empowerment and Well-Being Through Participatory Action Research and Accessible Gaming: A Case Study With Adults With Intellectual Disability

Although the potential of games to foster learning, representation, empowerment, well-being, and social inclusion is already documented, some groups seem to remain underrepresented. In the field of disability, this potential is still immersed in a set of barriers and hindrances, arising from the lack of accessibility of this medium and the lack of representation of voices in research and development processes. This problem seems to be exponentiated in the field of Intellectual Disability (ID). The present study describes insights from a case study developed with 14 institutionalized adults with severe ID, with two complementary aims: (a) explore the effectiveness of a PAR gaming approach in the empowerment and well-being of adults with ID living in an institutional setting; and (b) explore the feasibility of promoting accessibility in games through PAR. The proposed intervention included the development of games by higher education students for these individuals, with their active participation in all phases – conceptual definition, game design, game development, and playtesting. A total of 38 playtesting sessions and 162 gaming sessions were conducted, where systematic observation grids were filled, and pre and post-process assessments were conducted, targeting variables related to empowerment and well-being. The obtained results sustain this type of action-research design as a feasible strategy to empower people with ID and foster their well-being, through games as a form of expression and not only therapy. It also reflects on accessibility improvement through the presence of underrepresented groups (people with ID particularly) in the media creation processes that can,per se, be considered a form of empowerment. These insights also open a discussion about a potential paradigm shift toward a social model of accessibility aligned with the current views on the field of disability studies. Future studies should replicate this methodology with larger samples and in a context not aligned with the pandemic isolation. Furthermore, PAR must also be explored from a more general perspective, as a strategy to promote accessibility and participation in other media and cultural products as a whole.

COVID-19: Evolving challenges and opportunities for residential and vocational intellectual disability service providers.

The sustainability of service provision continues to be a challenge in the field of intellectual disability due to changes in delivery as part of intermittent or ongoing lockdown requirements during the COVID‐19 global pandemic. There are many facets to this that may have temporary or permanent impacts not only on the sector, but ultimately for service access and outcomes for people with intellectual disability themselves. This narrative literature review identifies both opportunities for, and impacts on, service providers across jurisdictions. These are explored in terms of the effects that suspension, adaptation, continuity or the cessation of service delivery have had, and those that are projected. Such impacts include, but are not limited to, changes in service access and delivery, employment roles and responsibilities, financial sustainability and the need to diversify the services and supports provided and how they are delivered. The relevance of these impacts for family carers and people with intellectual disability is also discussed. Nonetheless, there have also been opportunities which inform the shape of service delivery and pandemic planning into the future.

Challenging "The Hands of Technology": An Analysis of Independent Living for People with Intellectual Disabilities.

Technology has been holding out the promise of facilitating greater autonomy and improving care for people in a situation of dependency. This trend is expected to grow and this is happening precisely at a time of expansion of the so-called Independent Living paradigm. In this context, however, disability activists are generally suspicious of approaches based on being “left” in the hands of technology. They instead advocate for “subordinating hands” to their ability to decide, a principle that stands in tension with the field of intellectual disability, where individuals are perceived as intrinsically unable to make “good decisions”. Therefore, the aim of this paper is to provide insight into the uses and developments of technologies with regard to care and autonomy for people with intellectual disabilities. By ethnographically examining the case of a specific technology; QR (quick response) codes in the context of an independent living service, and in the framework of Science and Technology Studies and Disability Studies, the paper reveals the role and possibilities of care and autonomy technologies for people with intellectual disabilities. Based on these findings, and by thinking from what we could define as “within a sociotechnical assemblage”, this paper aims to rethink the ways in which technologies for independent living can be used in the field.

HOW WOULD HENRY FORD FIX THE WORKFORCE CRISIS IN THE INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY FIELD?

The ongoing workforce crisis in the intellectual disability field is examined from a supply and demand perspective. Author argues that a significant pay increase is needed to establish an equilibrium between the demand for Direct Support Professionals and the supply of Direct Support Professionals. The impact of government price controls on the intellectual disability industry is highlighted as a contributing factor to the workforce crisis.

Estimating the Demand for Direct Support Professionals in the Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Field

National residential census data from residential programs for individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities were examined to estimate the demand for Direct Support Professionals. Publicly available data and basic residential staffing formulae were used. While the number of individuals receiving residential supports and services increased about 28% over 11 years, the demand for Direct Support Professionals increased about 33%. Smaller group homes were noted to increase about 47% in demand for Direct Support Professionals. The shortfall in terms of Direct Support Professionals was estimated to be approximately 73,000 in the United States.

Post-Traumatic Growth in Professionals Caring for People with Intellectual Disabilities during COVID-19: A Psychological Intervention.

Background: Health professionals present a greater vulnerability to the effects of COVID-19 on their mental health, especially those who work with vulnerable groups such as those who suffer from intellectual disability (ID). The objective of the present research was to develop and verify the effectiveness of a psychological intervention for professionals in the field of ID to improve their mental health during this health crisis. Methods: A total of 32 professionals participated. The variables measured were: post-traumatic growth, mental health, burnout, coping strategies, resilience, life satisfaction, optimism, and cognitive and affective empathy. Results: The results revealed statistically significant differences in the post-traumatic growth variable. In the rest of the variables (mental health, burnout, coping strategies, resilience, vital satisfaction, optimism, and empathy), no significant differences between groups were found. Conclusions: An increase in the levels of post-traumatic growth was observed in the intervention group after a brief online psychological intervention. However, given the small sample size, these results should be taken with caution. Institutions should foster and promote interventions aimed at reducing the high emotional impact produced by COVID-19 in professionals that care for people diagnosed with ID.

Task-Related Brain Connectivity Activation Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Intellectual Disability Population: A Meta-Analytic Study.

Introduction: Neuroimaging studies of intellectual disability (ID) have been published over the last three decades, but the findings are often inconsistent, and therefore, the neural correlates of ID remain elusive. This article aims to study the different publications in task-functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and different ID populations to make a qualitative and quantitative analysis on this field. Methods: After duplicates were removed, only 10 studies matching our inclusion criteria were incorporated. Moreover, a quality assessment of the included studies was done. Qualitative results of the different articles were analyzed, separated by type of task and type of ID. Seed-based d mapping (SDM) software was used. Results: The right temporal gyrus was more activated in control subjects than in ID. Concretely, the right temporal gyrus is implicated in many cognitive domains as semantic memory processing and language. Moreover, it can be highly influenced by the type of task used in every study. Heterogeneity was not detected. A jackknife sensitivity analysis was also estimated to improve the analysis reliability, and both results were confirmed. Conclusions: More task-fMRI studies on ID must be published to add larger samples to address the pathophysiological questions more directly. Impact statement In this article, the state-of-the-art in the field of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and intellectual disability (ID) is reviewed. Moreover, we perform a meta-analysis of every article's results to summarize the principal outcomes in the field. It is very relevant because it has become the first meta-analytic study to overcome all the principal studies published in fMRI and ID to find the principal neurological substrates while the subjects are performing a task.

Commentary on the 12th Edition of Intellectual Disability: Definition, Diagnosis, Classification, and Systems of Supports

Commentary on the 12th Edition of <i>Intellectual Disability: Definition, Diagnosis, Classification, and Systems of Supports</i>

An Overview of Intellectual Disability: Definition, Diagnosis, Classification, and Systems of Supports (12th ed.).

An Overview of Intellectual Disability: Definition, Diagnosis, Classification, and Systems of Supports (12th ed.).

A quality of life supports model: Six research-focused steps to evaluate the model and enhance research practices in the field of IDD

In the field of intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) the constructs of quality of life and supports have been combined into a Quality of Life Supports Model (QOLSM) that is currently used internationally for supports provision, organization transformation, and systems change. With the model’s increasing and widespan use in research and practice, there is a need to evaluate the model’s impact at the individual, organization, and systems levels. The purpose of this article is to outline six specific research-focused evaluation steps that allow researchers to evaluate the model and thereby enhance research practices is the field of IDD. These steps involve: (1) operationalizing components of the QOLSM; (2) relating QOLSM components to the type of research planned and intended outcome indicators; (3) gathering evidence and establishing its credibility; (4) interpreting and communicating the results; (5) implementing research outcomes at the level of the microsystem, mesosystem and macrosystem; and (6) judging the impact of the model. These steps delineate a research framework that is based on a systematic approach to evidence-based practices and enhanced research practices in the field of IDD.

Self-Determination Competencies, (Dis)Agreement in Decision-Making, and Personal Well-Being of Adults with Mild Intellectual Disabilities in Hong Kong.

Background: The self-determination of people with an intellectual disability (ID) in the contexts of adulthood and Chinese culture is under-examined in the field of ID, even though the concept of self-determination has vigorously developed in recent decades. This study examined the relationship between self-determination competencies and the personal well-being of adults with mild ID in Hong Kong, as well as their personal goals and decision-making (dis)agreements with their significant others. Methods: We interviewed 170 participants using the AIR Self-Determination Scale—Chinese Version (AIR SDS-C) and the Personal Well-Being—Intellectual Disability (Cantonese) (PWI-C), along with a self-constructed questionnaire. Results: When the demographic characteristics were controlled, self-determination competencies correlated positively with personal well-being (r = 0.313, p < 0.001), diverse personal goals were identified, and agreement with significant others was dominant in both daily and major decision-making. Conclusions: A positive correlation between self-determination and personal well-being was confirmed in a Chinese population with mild ID. These findings expand the understanding of the types of personal goals and agreement patterns of people with mild ID and yield implications for further research and practices.

Defining, diagnosing, classifying, and planning supports for people with intellectual disability: an emerging consensus

Significant international work in the field of intellectual disability (ID) over the last decade has resulted in an emerging consensus regarding the definition of ID, the criteria used to diagnose a person with ID, the classification of individuals who have been diagnosed with ID, and the planning of individualized supports for people with ID. This article describes that emerging consensus