Title
Self- and caregiver-reported experiences of young adults with developmental disabilities
Document Type
Article
Date of Original Version
12-4-2007
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to describe the experiences of young adults with developmental disabilities (DD) who were living in community settings with the aid of government-supported services. Six male and 10 female volunteer subjects (mean age = 24 years) were interviewed and the narrative data were analyzed revealing themes in six categories: (1) Home Life, (2) Relationships, (3) Health and Health Care, (4) Personal Growth and Accomplishments, (5) Occupation, and (6) Transportation. Subjects' most positive experiences were associated with integrated, comprehensive and timely services delivered by knowledgeable and sensitive service providers. Strong parental advocacy facilitated these features. Additionally, experiences were most positive when daily activities occurred within the sphere of either family or the disability community, as opposed to the broader community. Research is suggested to further understand the dynamics of integration in the broader community and to devise strategies to successfully facilitate this integration. © Copyright (c) by The Haworth Press, Inc. All rights reserved.
Publication Title, e.g., Journal
Journal of Social Work in Disability and Rehabilitation
Volume
6
Issue
4
Citation/Publisher Attribution
Roush, Susan E., Kathleen Fresher-Samways, Jill Stolgitis, Jody Rabbitt, and Ed Cardinal. "Self- and caregiver-reported experiences of young adults with developmental disabilities." Journal of Social Work in Disability and Rehabilitation 6, 4 (2007). doi: 10.1300/J198v06n04_04.