Background: People with intellectual disabilities are often left out of research on important topics. This exploratory study investigated their views on barriers and facilitators to accessing care at end of life, both at home and in a hospice setting. Method: This qualitative study used reflexive thematic analysis. Two focus groups were held via…

Background: There is limited qualitative research focussed specifically on what it is like for children and young people with intellectual disabilities coming into hospital, with much of the evidence-base being about those with Autism Spectrum Condition or adults with intellectual disabilities. Aim: To share rich detail of the emotional and…

Background: Advancements in medicine have increased the life expectancy of the people with profound intellectual and multiple disabilities. The hypothesis is that as parents get older, they worry about no longer being there for their child. This paper explores the extent to which the experiences of older parents may differ from that of younger…

Introduction: Like the broader population, people with intellectual disability (ID) experience the process of grief after loss of a loved one. However, there are a series of risk factors characteristic of this population that can hinder the development of adaptive grief, including cognitive and affective aspects. The objective of this study was to…

Background: The present study investigated staff perspectives on supporting individuals with intellectual disabilities with mental health relapse prevention. Methods: Eight staff with experience working with or supporting individuals engaged with a specialist mental health in intellectual disability (MHID) service (team member = 2, management…

Background: Children with intellectual disability are at greater risk of developing anxiety than the general population. Limited research has examined the challenges associated with recognising and responding to anxiety in children with intellectual disability, and its perceived impact. Aim: This study aimed to explore anxiety in children with…

Background: People with learning disabilities experience bereavement in the same emotionally overwhelming way as the general population. The Dual-Process Model of grief is characterised by the oscillation between "Loss-Orientation" and "Restoration-Orientation." These processes involve experiencing and accepting the emotional…

The purpose of this qualitative phenomenology design was to describe the experiences of caregivers to adults with I/DD in the State of Texas. The theory guiding this study was the social constructivism framework which focused on how language and culture frame how individuals communicate, experience, and understand reality. In this study, the…

Background: History starts from where we are now - it is not just things that happened a long time ago. The global pandemic began in 2019. It has changed the lives of people with learning disabilities. We began our project during the first lockdown in April 2020. We came together to set up a website to collect stories and support and learn from…

In people with intellectual disabilities research and policy are often still focused on risks or the prevention of risks. Research on the process of resilience is in its infancy in the care for people with intellectual disabilities. In the current study, applying a guided photovoice procedure, people with intellectual disabilities were asked what…

Background: There has been extensive research into adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), however, less consideration has been given to the prevalence and impact of ACEs for staff working with people with intellectual disabilities. Method: Participants were staff employed by agencies that care for people with intellectual disabilities. An online…

Recent COVID-19 lockdown restrictions resulted in reduced access to educational, professional and social support systems for children with intellectual disabilities and their carers. Aim: The aim of this study was to gain insight into the ways mothers of children with intellectual disabilities coped during the first 2020 lockdown period. Methods:…

Background: Children and adolescents with intellectual disabilities commonly experience emotion regulation difficulties. To better understand emotion regulation in this population, the views of their teachers were considered. Methods: Twenty-nine teachers participated in two focus groups. This study utilized qualitative methods to determine if the…

Background: Young adults with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities lack access to mental health supports. Peer-delivered services may fill this gap. We adapted a theory-driven and evidence-based peer mentoring intervention for virtual-delivery and investigated its acceptability and participants' preliminary response. Methods: Twelve…

Background: Williams syndrome anxiety research predominantly focuses on disorder prevalence and symptomatology, categorised using standardised mental health classifications. However, the use of these assessments may not fully capture the phenotypic features of anxiety in Williams syndrome. In this study, we examined characteristics of anxiety…