Daniel Acton, Grace Talbot, Caroline Mogan, Sujeet Jaydeokar
{"title":"Active ageing in people with intellectual disability: a qualitative evidence synthesis of the experiences, challenges, and pathways to support.","authors":"Daniel Acton, Grace Talbot, Caroline Mogan, Sujeet Jaydeokar","doi":"10.3109/13668250.2025.2517203","DOIUrl":"10.3109/13668250.2025.2517203","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Improved life expectancy, among individuals with intellectual disability, highlights unique health, social, and emotional challenges in ageing, including premature ageing, comorbidities, and access barriers to accessing care. This review explores whether current systems adequately address the holistic needs of ageing individuals with intellectual disability, emphasising the importance of person-centred support.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>A qualitative evidence synthesis was undertaken using thematic synthesis to identify and analyse patterns across studies. A systematic search of eight databases was conducted, and 15 qualitative studies, published between 2010 and 2023, were included.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Five key themes were identified: challenges in managing physical health declines, reduction in personal autonomy and control, increased social isolation, uncertainty about future care, and age-related stigma, and discrimination.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This review underscores the importance of a holistic, person-centred approach to supporting ageing individuals with intellectual disability. Addressing health and psychosocial needs, and advocating for inclusive service planning remains essential.</p>","PeriodicalId":51466,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Intellectual & Developmental Disability","volume":" ","pages":"1-13"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-06-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144509313","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Exploring parent and service provider expectations for children with autism or intellectual disability: A two-country follow-up study.","authors":"Melissa Washington-Nortey, Adote Anum, Zewelanji Serpell, Yaoying Xu, Ioana Rusnac","doi":"10.3109/13668250.2025.2508620","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3109/13668250.2025.2508620","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Few studies have examined care providers' expectations for children with autism spectrum disorders or intellectual disability in low-and-middle-income countries. We used data from a qualitative study to inform a quantitative investigation of parents' and service providers' expectations for children with autism or intellectual disability in Ghana and Zambia.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>207 participants completed country-specific surveys examining expectations for children with autism or intellectual disability. Participants rated each expectation statement on two criteria: (i) the perceived importance and (ii) the perceived likelihood of attainment. We investigated differences using multivariate analysis of variance strategies.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>There were significant differences between parents and service providers in Ghana on the perceived importance of <i>independence</i>, and the likelihood of children with autism or intellectual disability attaining <i>independence, quality education, and</i> community <i>acceptance and inclusion</i>. No significant differences emerged in Zambia.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The findings and research, policy, and practice implications are discussed.</p>","PeriodicalId":51466,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Intellectual & Developmental Disability","volume":" ","pages":"1-16"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-06-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144303519","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Jo Watson, Elena Jenkin, Kate Anderson, Amie O'Shea, Kevin Murfitt, Jennifer David, Susan Taylor, Gemma Ge, Patsie Frawley, Angela Dew
{"title":"A human rights framing of the experiences of supporting people with intellectual disability in congregate care: Post-pandemic reflections.","authors":"Jo Watson, Elena Jenkin, Kate Anderson, Amie O'Shea, Kevin Murfitt, Jennifer David, Susan Taylor, Gemma Ge, Patsie Frawley, Angela Dew","doi":"10.3109/13668250.2025.2513336","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3109/13668250.2025.2513336","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>This study explored human rights concerns of advocates and service providers during the COVID-19 pandemic in residential support services in Victoria, Australia.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>A desk-top review informed the content of individual interviews and focus groups with Victorian disability service providers and key advocacy focused agencies with roles in complaint, community visitor, guardianship, or advocacy.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Concerns identified by both stakeholder groups included restricted access to choice, control, and decision making, barriers to communication and self-determination, reduced safeguarding, and a lack of accessible health information. Enablers included increased face to face contact with consistent support staff, and opportunities for increased engagement with friends and family online. Reductions in behaviours of concern and associated restrictive interventions were reported.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Prevention of human rights violations in the context of lockdowns due to disease outbreaks or other disasters can and should be a priority for public health policy in Australia and internationally.</p>","PeriodicalId":51466,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Intellectual & Developmental Disability","volume":" ","pages":"1-11"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-06-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144287035","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Development of a digital library with accessible games for children with cognitive disabilities.","authors":"Orit Ben Shusan","doi":"10.3109/13668250.2025.2508617","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3109/13668250.2025.2508617","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>This study introduced a novel approach to designing accessible games for children with cognitive disabilities by directly incorporating clinicians' expertise, addressing a critical gap in evidence-based digital interventions.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>A qualitative study was conducted with 25 children in 15 occupational clinics, with varying levels of cognitive functioning. Interviews examined children's play needs to inform the development of a digital library of accessible games that were implemented in practice. A satisfaction questionnaire was distributed to participants.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Useful insights for designing accessible games for children with cognitive disabilities to support their development were obtained. Accessible games allowed children with cognitive disabilities to perform all stages of play and develop social skills, meeting their unique needs.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Accessible game design enhances play abilities by offering inclusive opportunities that promote understanding, participation, and skill development. Future research should examine the long-term impact of digital interventions and explore integration within family contexts to maximise therapeutic outcomes beyond clinical settings.</p>","PeriodicalId":51466,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Intellectual & Developmental Disability","volume":" ","pages":"1-11"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-06-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144287037","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Behavioural difficulties and quality of life in children with borderline intellectual functioning: A study of self- and parent-reported discrepancies in Thailand.","authors":"Nonglak Boonchooduang, Narueporn Likhitweerawong, Maniwan Phetsena, Nisochol Mekpoti, Orawan Louthrenoo","doi":"10.3109/13668250.2025.2515894","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3109/13668250.2025.2515894","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Borderline intellectual functioning (BIF) involves cognitive and adaptive limitations affecting behaviour and quality of life (QoL). This study compared self- and parent-reported behavioural difficulties and QoL in Thai children with BIF and identified associated factors.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>Fifty children aged 8-15 years with BIF and their parents completed the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire and Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory. Differences between child and parent reports were analysed using paired <i>t</i>-tests. Predictors of QoL were analysed using hierarchical multiple regression.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Parents reported fewer conduct problems, peer problems, and total difficulties than children, while rating prosocial behaviours higher. Self-reported QoL scores were higher, especially in social and school domains. Lower self-reported difficulties and lower paternal education predicted higher self-reported QoL, while higher maternal education and IQ predicted better parent-reported QoL.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Discrepancies between self- and parent-reported outcomes highlighted the importance of integrating both perspectives in care planning for children with BIF.</p>","PeriodicalId":51466,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Intellectual & Developmental Disability","volume":" ","pages":"1-10"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-06-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144287036","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Kelly D Harding, Katherine Flannigan, Colleen Burns, Kathy Unsworth, Audrey McFarlane
{"title":"Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder diagnostic clinics in Canada: \"It wouldn't happen if nobody wanted it to happen\".","authors":"Kelly D Harding, Katherine Flannigan, Colleen Burns, Kathy Unsworth, Audrey McFarlane","doi":"10.3109/13668250.2025.2508619","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3109/13668250.2025.2508619","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>We address the question: If you wanted to start a fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) diagnostic clinic, what would you need to do, think about, and plan for, from a policy perspective? Our aims were to understand how clinics are developed and established and the key factors that facilitate their success.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>Within a pragmatist epistemology, we conducted a basic qualitative study using semistructured interviews. Interviews were conducted with 12 key informants from 10 diagnostic clinics. Data were analysed using iterative thematic analysis.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>We derived five themes pertaining to our objectives: (i) listening and responding to your community; (ii) community buy-in and practical steps; (iii) multidisciplinary team trust, respect, and collaboration; (iv) the clinic coordinator; and (v) promoting uniqueness and learning from each other.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Our findings demonstrated the importance of local, community-based planning, team cohesion, and opportunities for mentorship in the development of new FASD clinical services.</p>","PeriodicalId":51466,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Intellectual & Developmental Disability","volume":" ","pages":"1-11"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-06-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144250834","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Facilitators, barriers, and strategies for supporting shared decision-making with people with intellectual disability: A West Australian primary healthcare professional perspective.","authors":"Kathryn Teale, Abigail Lewis, Rachel Skoss","doi":"10.3109/13668250.2024.2424784","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3109/13668250.2024.2424784","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Shared decision-making between patients and primary healthcare professionals positively impacts health outcomes. However, people with intellectual disability face additional barriers and require supported shared decision-making (SSDM) to participate. Little is known about how healthcare professionals use SSDM with this population. This paper explores the facilitators and barriers experienced, and strategies/resources employed by healthcare professionals working with people with intellectual disability.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>Ten purposively sampled primary healthcare professionals participated in semi-structured interviews. This descriptive qualitative study used content analysis. Findings were compared with a proposed model of factors influencing triadic (the person with intellectual disability, their caregiver and the healthcare professional) SSDM.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Five factor categories emerged: previous training/experience; engagement and trust; effective collaboration with caregivers; organisational culture and contexts; and familiarity/confidence with communication support strategies and resources.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Healthcare professionals can leverage pre-existing skills and knowledge, but provision of targeted professional development may reduce anxiety and increase successful SSDM.</p>","PeriodicalId":51466,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Intellectual & Developmental Disability","volume":"50 2","pages":"127-138"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144103148","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Positive behaviour support in Irish residential services: Perspectives of frontline staff, management and clinicians on implementation challenges.","authors":"Lucy Brady, Ciara Padden, Peter McGill","doi":"10.3109/13668250.2024.2410849","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3109/13668250.2024.2410849","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The current study explored the perspectives of staff working with adults with intellectual disabilities and behaviours that challenge. We sought insight into their understanding of procedural fidelity and challenges faced when implementing behaviour support.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>We interviewed 15 staff members supporting adults with intellectual disabilities in residential settings. Participants included five front-line staff, five residential managers, and five clinicians. Interviews were transcribed and thematic analysis conducted.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Issues identified by the participants related to four main themes: (1) Organisational and environmental constraints; (2) Understanding and monitoring of procedural fidelity; (3) Theory versus practice; (4) There's nothing positive about behaviour support.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Across staff groups, lack of understanding of fidelity emerged, as well as minimal accountability regarding behaviour support. Front-line staff felt isolated and under pressure. Greater emphasis on partnership, practice leadership, and positive feedback may give front-line staff the support needed to use behavioural interventions with high fidelity.</p>","PeriodicalId":51466,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Intellectual & Developmental Disability","volume":"50 2","pages":"151-164"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144103157","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Assessments, assumptions and ableism: examining court-ordered parenting capacity assessments of parents with intellectual disability and cognitive difficulties.","authors":"Peiling Kong, Susan Collings, Margaret Spencer","doi":"10.3109/13668250.2024.2417425","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3109/13668250.2024.2417425","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Parental intellectual disability is considered a risk factor for child removal internationally. In New South Wales, Australia, authorised clinicians are court appointed experts who assess parenting and cognitive capacity in child protection matters.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>This study examined a sample of 20 assessment orders requesting parenting capacity and cognitive capacity assessments and corresponding authorised clinician reports.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Authorised clinicians were requested to assess whether parental intellectual disability and cognitive impairment posed the risk of harm to children. Clinicians assessed parents as either \"able with support\" or \"unable\" to provide adequate care to their child.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Our findings highlight the law's conceptualisation of risk, parenting capacity, and cognitive impairment in binary terms (i.e., risk or no risk, able or unable), which in turn limits casework planning and clinicians' framing of parents' abilities. We provide recommendations to improve fair and equitable assessment processes for parents with cognitive difficulties, as well as access to timely and appropriate services.</p>","PeriodicalId":51466,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Intellectual & Developmental Disability","volume":"50 2","pages":"196-210"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144103134","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Looking for the experts: examining course accommodations and modifications for students with intellectual disability in inclusive higher education.","authors":"Beth Myers, Phillandra S Smith","doi":"10.3109/13668250.2024.2424798","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3109/13668250.2024.2424798","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Opportunities for students with intellectual disability to attend postsecondary education have increased with the rise of inclusive post-secondary education (IPSE) supports, bringing the need to examine the experiences of students and their instructors.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>This qualitative study used semi-structured interviews with 12 university instructors of IPSE students and 10 IPSE students to examine experiences with course adaptations.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Results indicate that instructors desired greater institutional support, training, and information as they felt unsure about their abilities to support students with intellectual disability and had varied understanding of accommodations and modifications. Students wanted to be seen as capable university students, utilised peer mentor supports, and were able to provide information about how they learned in a university setting.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The study found that students were valuable but often underutilised sources of information about their own access needs and sometimes worked through and around university systems. Implications for practice are provided.</p>","PeriodicalId":51466,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Intellectual & Developmental Disability","volume":"50 2","pages":"174-182"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144103151","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}