Background: It has been suggested that COVID-19 and the associated restrictions are likely to have a negative impact on the provision of positive behavioural support (PBS) to people with an intellectual disability. Methods: Fifty-eight staff, who had recently completed an accredited positive behavioural support (PBS) programme, responded to an…

Introduction: Individuals with intellectual disability (ID) are at significant risk of developing emotional trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) due to altered neuropsychological functioning, increased chance of experiencing adverse life events, difficulty expressing emotions, diagnostic overshadowing and institutional failures. Eye…

Background: We used a qualitative approach to explore the experiences of social care staff regarding the provision of positive behavioural support (PBS) to people with an intellectual disability at the height of the COVID-19 restrictions. Method: We conducted semi-structured interviews with 19 staff who had recently completed a PBS workforce…

The development of self-determination is promoted by supportive contexts during adolescence; families are a key part of this context. In adolescent populations, research suggests families can support self-determination in a number of ways, yet less is known about how self-determination is promoted within families of youth with intellectual and…

Background: There is a dearth of literature related to well-being of college students with IDD. The purpose of this study was to use design thinking to identify health-related innovations for college students with IDD. Method: Two design thinking events were conducted with participants (n = 16). Subsequent web-based surveys with a separate group…

Background: Therapeutic untruths (TU) are used in dementia services to de-escalate distressing situations. The present authors explored the use of TU by care staff supporting people with an intellectual disability who displayed behaviours that challenged. Method: Data were collected from 126 staff (female = 72.2%; mean age = 41.9 years, SD = 10.7)…

Background: With increasing reductions in funding for social care across many countries, the need to ensure that resources are used to best effect is becoming increasingly important, in particular for those with severe and complex needs. Methods: In order to explore the outcomes and costs of skilled support for this group of people, quality of…

Introduction: The furtherance of educational, social and occupational inclusion has led to increasing acceptance of people with intellectual disabilities as full members of the community. However, attitudes and behaviors towards these people are not always positive. Method: Taking the model of the FUNDOWN School of Life as the theoretical basis,…

Background: Girls with a mild intellectual disability generally receive less sexuality education than their non-disabled peers, while their needs for sexual knowledge are possibly greater. This study aimed to evaluate the effect and process of a new sexuality education programme (Girls' Talk+), focused on sexual health among girls with a mild…

In England, the national mortality review programme for people with intellectual disabilities, the LeDeR programme, was established in 2015. The programme supports local areas to review the deaths of all people with intellectual disabilities aged 4 years and over. Each death has an initial review; if indicated, a full multi-agency review takes…

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: Persons with intellectual disabilities have the right to pursue and acquire gainful employment and thereby obtain the psychological, social and economic benefits derived from employment. Aims: This study aimed to examine workers' attitudes towards and perspectives with respect to the challenges of employing persons with intellectual…

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine if integrative dance classes have the potential to improve the postural stability in individuals with intellectual disability. Methods: A quasi-experimental, pretest-posttest research design was used to assess changes in postural stability of 16 individuals with intellectual disability. Postural…

Background: The present study investigated decision-making in patients with Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) using the Soochow Gambling Task (SGT). The objective was to assess whether adults with PWS have impaired hot executive functions and whether the deficit is specific to PWS or linked to intellectual disabilities. Method: The SGT performance of 26…

Purpose: The three variants of primary progressive aphasia (PPA) differ in clinical presentation, underlying brain pathology, and clinical course, which stresses the need for early differentiation. However, brief cognitive tests that validly distinguish between all PPA variants are lacking. The Sydney Language Battery (SYDBAT) is a promising…