Background: Initiating meaningful moments of interaction with people with profound intellectual disabilities can prove to be difficult for support staff. Exploring the behaviour of support staff that precedes the initiations of behaviour by people with profound intellectual disabilities helps to shed light upon the potential facilitating effects…

Background: The social networks of adults with intellectual disabilities are often small and may be limited to family, paid staff and others with disabilities. This study explored the social inclusion of six individuals who joined mainstream leisure clubs or became local volunteers. Method: This qualitative intervention study provided structured…

Background: There is a need for more qualitative research focusing on the lived experiences of people with an intellectual disability and a better understanding of how these experiences align with other voices in their lives, such as family and support staff. Methods: In this qualitative study, we asked people with an intellectual disability (N =…

Background: This study is inclusive research. Inclusive research is when people with disability are involved as researchers. The aim of this project was to focus on relationships that people with intellectual disability have and to find what makes these relationships work. Another aim of this project was to share stories about these relationships…

Background: High staff turnover presents a challenge to the provision of good quality community-based support to people with an intellectual disability. While recent research has identified factors that are thought to be important for staff retention, their relative importance to social care staff is unknown. The aim of this study was to address…

Background: The lockdown of a day centre for individuals with intellectual disabilities led to digital activities instead of traditional physical presence. Method: This study is based on 17 interviews with staff of a day centre, directors of day centres and support persons. Findings: The purpose of the digital activities was to overcome physical…

Background: This article presents an overview and discussion of the main developments in the lives of persons with intellectual disability in Malta over the last 70 years in residential services, education, employment, friendships and relationships, culture, sport and leisure activities, having a say in one's own life and how people look at…

Background: Social and communication impairments are a core diagnostic feature of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and can act as a barrier to developing relationships. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (2016) guidelines recommend group social skills interventions as the first-line treatment to help adults with ASD improve their…

Background: The COVID-19 global pandemic has put adults with intellectual/developmental disabilities at greater risk of being socially excluded due to physical distancing. Technology has been looked at as a tool for adults with intellectual/developmental disabilities to stay connected, however, little is known about this topic. The purpose of this…

Background: Respite care is an essential support for people with intellectual disabilities and their families; however, there is limited evidence examining different models of respite care. The present research examined quality of life among adults with intellectual disabilities using three different models of respite services in Ireland. Method:…

Background: This paper was written by researchers with and without intellectual disability working in two Australian universities. Each university has an inclusive programme. The co-researchers were former students of these programmes. The reason for this study was to find out what people in these two programmes did while they were at university,…

1.1 Background: Compassion is one of the six core principles that the NHS means to promote within health care. Research concerning compassion within learning disability services is scarce; therefore, the current study aimed to explore the experiences of compassion of professionals within learning disability services. 1.2 Materials and Methods:…

Background: People with intellectual and developmental disabilities face challenges in developing and maintaining intimate relationships, frequently requiring support from staff. Method: Focus groups were conducted with 26 social care staff members to explore the support they provided to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities to…

Background: Before COVID-19, people with intellectual disabilities were digitally excluded, facing difficulties accessing and using technology. The pandemic outbreak closed down many in-person services and supports for this population. Methods: This study examined changes in technology use to support the healthcare and social connections of older…

Background: People with intellectual/intellectual and physical disabilities frequently use day-service centres, an array of services that involve the provision of care and social activities during the daytime and offer homebound people with disabilities opportunities to live in their communities. While nurses working at day-service centres for…