ERIC Number: EJ1487463
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2025-Sep
Pages: 13
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1360-2322
EISSN: EISSN-1468-3148
Available Date: 2025-10-12
Co-Designing Peer Support for Women Labelled with Intellectual Disabilities Who Have Experienced Sexual Violence
Alexis Buettgen1; Tammy Bernasky2; Kelly MacDougall3; Ann Fudge Schormans4; Jennifer Gordon5; Sandra Tavares3; VerĂ³nica Schiariti6; Robin Mason7,8,9,10; Janice Du Mont7,9,11; Maria Huijbregts12
Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, v38 n5 e70123 2025
Background: Women labelled with intellectual disabilities face high rates of social exclusion and sexual violence, with limited research and few services tailored to their needs. Peer support offers many benefits including recognition of diverse lived experiences and nonprofessional perspectives. This article highlights collaborative efforts of women labelled with intellectual disabilities, service providers and researchers in advancing peer support through an applied research project. Methods: Using trauma-informed, arts-based and human-rights-focused co-design approaches, we fostered inclusive research and programme development in a 3-day virtual symposium. Results: The study emphasises shared control of research agendas, shaped by a multistakeholder team prioritising lived experience knowledge. Women took more control over the research through co-creative practices to that meaningfully included them in the design of future research and programming. Conclusion: This inclusive model champions equality and equity, advocating for positive discourse around intellectual disabilities while bridging lived, academic and professional insights in the field.
Descriptors: Intellectual Disability, Sexual Abuse, Females, Peer Influence, Participatory Research, Foreign Countries, Mentors, Program Effectiveness
Wiley. Available from: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030. Tel: 800-835-6770; e-mail: cs-journals@wiley.com; Web site: https://www.wiley.com/en-us
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Canada
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: 1Department of Psychology, Community Psychology Program, Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, Canada; 2Political Science, Cape Breton University, Cape Breton, Canada; 3Family Service Toronto, Toronto, Canada; 4School of Social Work, McMaster University, Toronto, Canada; 5Pineapple Flags, Waterloo, Canada; 6Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, Canada; 7Women's College Research Institute, Toronto, Canada; 8Women's Xchange, Toronto, Canada; 9Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada; 10Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada; 11Collaborative Specialization in Women's Health Program, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada; 12Knowledge Building, Family Service Toronto, Toronto, Canada

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