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This study analyzes the relationship between the employability competencies acquired after completing an employment training program at university and the subsequent access to employment of young people with intellectual disabilities. To do this, the employability competencies of 145 students were analyzed at the end of the program (T1) and information was gathered on their career path at the time of the study (T2) (n = 72). Sixty-two per cent of the participants have had at least one job since graduation. Job competencies increase the probability of accessing and retaining employment in students who graduated at least 2 years before ( X2 = 17.598; p < .001; r2 = .583). These results compel us to complement employment training programs with new opportunities and greater job accessibility.

BACKGROUND: Work holds great meaning and benefits beyond just monetary gain for people with intellectual disabilities. It gives these individuals the opportunity to engage in meaningful occupation. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the study was to explore challenges that people with intellectual disabilities (PWID) experience when adapting to their worker roles in the open labor market. METHODS: The study used grounded theory as the research design. Five male participants and two key informants participated in the study. Two semi structured interviews were conducted with each one of the seven participants (five PWID and two key informants). RESULTS: Three core concepts emerged: 1) Unforeseen challenges of change; 2) A well-planned work preparation program enables success and 3) Crossing the bridge into the workplace: “Do I belong here?” CONCLUSIONS: This indicated that with sufficient external support, PWID are able to gain a sense of social belonging and develop the necessary skills to cope with challenges that arise in the workplace when PWID transition from protective/sheltered workshops to the open labor market. The findings of the study also indicated that work preparation programs and supportive employment approaches helped PWID transition to the open labor market.

Purpose: People with intellectual disabilities are deeply affected by health inequity, which is also reflected in their access to and use of assistive technology (AT) which could benefit them. Including the perspectives of adults with intellectual disabilities and their caregivers, together with the views of local health professionals, suppliers of AT and policy-makers, this paper aims to provide an overview of factors influencing access to AT and its use by people with intellectual disabilities in Bangalore, a southern region of India. Method: Face-to-face interviews were conducted with 15 adults with intellectual disabilities (ranging from mild to profound) and their caregivers, and with 16 providers of assistive technology. This helped to gain insight into the current use, needs, knowledge, awareness, access, customisation, funding, follow-up, social inclusion, stigma and policies around assistive technology and intellectual disability. Results: Access to assistive technology was facilitated by community fieldworkers and services to reach out and identify people with intellectual disability. Important barriers were stigma, and lack of knowledge and awareness among parents. Factors related to continued use were the substantial dependence on the care system to use assistive technology, and the importance of AT training and instructions for the user and the care system. Conclusion and Implications: The barriers and facilitators related to assistive technology for people with intellectual disability differ from other populations in need. The findings of this study can be used to inform and adjust country policies and frameworks whose aim is to improve access to AT and enhance the participation of people with intellectual disabilities within their communities.

Political theory contains two views of social care for people with intellectual disabilities. The favor view treats disability services as an undeserved gratuity, while the entitlement view sees them as a deserved right. This paper argues that David Hume is one philosophical source of the favor view; he bases political membership on a threshold level of mental capacity and shuts out anyone who falls below. Hume’s account, which excludes people with intellectual disabilities from justice owing to their lack of power, but includes them in charity, is morally deficient. The shortcomings of Hume’s theory underscore the necessity of having a view of justice which ensures that people with intellectual disabilities are not marginalized. In defending the entitlement view, I integrate philosophical analysis and concrete examples of policy issues.

Background: Lithium is well described in managing certain mental illnesses including in people with intellectual disabilities (ID). It requires regular monitoring particularly of serum levels and r...

Research confirms the effectiveness of training based on specific sports discipline in the therapy of people with intellectual disabilities. The aim of the study was to determine the influence of c...

Progressive resistance exercise training (PRET) reduces cardiovascular risk factors (CVRF) in the general population. It is unknown if PRET also reduces these risk factors in adults with intellectual disabilities (ID). The aim is to present the protocol of an intervention study that investigates the effect of PRET on CVRF in adults with ID. We will use a repeated time series design with one study group. Adults with mild-to-moderate ID and at least two CVRF are eligible (Netherlands Trial Register, NL8382). During a 12-week baseline period, measurements take place at a 6-week interval. After this, the PRET programme starts for 24 weeks, after which all measurements will be repeated. We will use hierarchical regression models, adjusted for sport activity and medication use, to estimate the effect of PRET. After the intervention, the participants will be followed-up for 12 weeks. We will evaluate factors for successful implementation of exercise in daily life. Primary outcomes are: hypertension, obesity, hypercholesterolemia, diabetes, metabolic syndrome. Secondary outcomes are: physical fitness, sarcopenia, physical activity, activities of daily living, falls, challenging behaviour. If our results show that the PRET programme is effective, it may be a promising non-pharmacological intervention to reduce CVRF in adults with ID.

Feelings of marginalisation impact the lives of LGBT+ people in a fundamental way, but for those who have an intellectual disability, and are gay, there is a heightened sense of alienation. This article examines the unique oppression faced by these individuals in a heteronormative and ableist world, where a long history of extreme control of sexual intimacy has resulted in harsh forms of social exclusion. Although moves have been made to empower service users who are intellectually disabled and identify as LGBT+ to participate fully in life, there is also a need to assess the relationship between rights, responsibility, and risk. This article further explores whether by drawing upon government social policy, barriers are being dismantled through the development of innovative local strategies that aim to deliver non-discriminatory person-centred services.

Discriminating mood disorders from symptoms of intellectual disability is still a challenge for clinicians. We need standardized tools to apply right diagnoses without confusing signs and symptoms and specially to standardize psychological techniques to treat mood disorders without the use of drugs even in people with intellectual disability.

Purpose This commentary aims to define STOMP and STAMP, describes its history and evolution and the authors’ thoughts about future directions given the lack of clear evidence base for prescribing and deprescribing psychotropic medication given for behaviour thought to be challenging. Design/methodology/approach This commentary defines the authors’ clinical experience and personal thoughts about STOMP achievements and challenges for the future delivery. Findings This commentary details STOMP development to date and highlights the potential areas for further study and research to grow understanding, professional confidence and delivery. Research limitations/implications This commentary highlights much of the currently accepted research and areas that have poor quality evidence or are of interest for future study. STOMP definition, especially of inappropriate prescribing, is key to redefining the work. Practical implications This commentary highlights the potential impact of STOMP and STAMP on prescribing rates and the need for better definition, processes and education for workforce development. There is a major need to understand the benefit of behavioural intervention to support the optimisation of medication. Originality/value This commentary builds on personal experience and current understanding to postulate considerations to further the delivery of STOMP and STAMP.

This paper describes the process of co-design of technological products to increase museum accessibility and engagement in visitors with mild or moderate intellectual disabilities (IDs). By using an Inclusive Research approach, a multidisciplinary team of experts, including researchers in Users Experience (UX), psychology, and education, museum curators and a group of participants with IDs (n=9) have participated as the research team. Participants with IDs were involved in two rounds of interviews. The first-round interview aimed to explore participants' use and familiarity with technologies and to understand their interest in using technological tools in different contexts. The second-round interview aimed at exploring participants' spontaneous choice between different tools classified as low (easy-to-read vs Augmentative and Alternative Communication) or high-tech (Augmented Reality) aids for acquiring new knowledge within a museum space. The analysis of the interviews revealed that there was a general consistency between previous technology use/experience/interest and the choice of ICT-based products by participants with IDs. These results highlight the importance of emphasizing a multidisciplinary dialogue and the active participation of IDs users to outline methodologies, programs, procedures, and international standards to foster inclusive access to cultural heritage.

This paper describes the process of co-design of technological products to increase museum accessibility and engagement in visitors with mild or moderate intellectual disabilities (IDs). By using an Inclusive Research approach, a multidisciplinary team of experts, including researchers in Users Experience (UX), psychology, and education, museum curators and a group of participants with IDs (n=9) have participated as the research team. Participants with IDs were involved in two rounds of interviews. The first-round interview aimed to explore participants’ use and familiarity with technologies and to understand their interest in using technological tools in different contexts. The second-round interview aimed at exploring participants’ spontaneous choice between different tools classified as low (easy-to-read vs Augmentative and Alternative Communication) or high-tech (Augmented Reality) aids for acquiring new knowledge within a museum space. The analysis of the interviews revealed that there was a general consistency between previous technology use/experience/interest and the choice of ICT-based products by participants with IDs. These results highlight the importance of emphasizing a multidisciplinary dialogue and the active participation of IDs users to outline methodologies, programs, procedures, and international standards to foster inclusive access to cultural heritage.

Soo-Kyoung Oh

The aim of this study is to gather experiences and protocols used in practice when developing and implementing eHealth for people with ID. Interviews and focus groups will take place in order to collect a variation of different perspectives on both aspects.

Many with intellectual disabilities (ID) have difficulties adhering to current physical activity guidelines. The goal of this study was to develop a mobile app for assisting people with ID to be more physically active. We implemented a solution that combines the digital and real world using augmented reality (AR). Eight people working with people with ID (special education teachers, social workers, psychologists, and researchers) tested the app and completed a usability test. Results indicate that a mobile app focusing on everyday life scenarios can have a potential value for the targeted user group, but AR solutions can be challenging. publishedVersion

The article presents the results of the analysis of differences between men and women in terms of the intensity of stereotypical beliefs about people with intellectual disabilities. In the research, a diagnostic survey method was used, and in the construction of the research tool the Questionnaire of Stereotypical Perception of a Person with Mental Handicap (KSPOUU) by Maria Chodkowska and Beata Szabała (Osoby z upośledzeniem umysłowym w stereotypowym postrzeganiu społecznym, 2012) was used. The research involved 394 students, including 258 women (65.48%) and 136 men (34.52%) attending grades I, II or III of high school. As a result of the analyses carried out, it was found that although the level of intensity of stereotypes in the examined group was not high, they were not strongly rejected either. In addition, it turned out that the results obtained by women suggest that their beliefs about people with intellectual disabilities are less burdened with stereotypes than the beliefs of men. Research has confirmed that gender can be an important variable in analysing the perception of people with intellectual disabilities.

The article addresses the issue of life stories of people with intellectual disabilities, analysing their importance from an individual and group perspective. The potential of this method was highlighted referring to selected studies of people with intellectual disabilities. Functions designated by Elżbieta Dubas were used as the basis for the analysis. Competences relevant to the implementation of life stories have been considered, taking into account their possible limitations in people with disabilities. The focus was on the properties of cognitive processes, but personality competences were also recognized. Potential difficulties related to implementation in this group were noted and ways of overcoming them were suggested. The usefulness of life stories and life histories for the practice of care and rehabilitation of people with intellectual disabilities has been shown.

BACKGROUND Microenterprises are very small businesses requiring little capital and can be an employment pathway for people with intellectual disabilities. This systematic review aims to identify the facilitators, barriers and outcomes from microenterprise. METHOD Web of Science, Scopus, EconLit, PsycINFO and ProQuest were searched to identify peer-reviewed studies on microenterprises owned by people with intellectual disability published up to and including 1 October 2019. RESULTS A total of 1080 papers were independently screened by two reviewers. Six papers met the inclusion criteria. Barriers included lack of access to business expertise and resources, and the tension between growing microenterprises and maintaining eligibility for welfare payments. Formal and informal supports were key facilitators. Outcomes experienced included additional income, skills development, increased confidence and engagement in meaningful activities. CONCLUSION Additional research is required to develop an evidence base which may support investment in this employment pathway, making microenterprise more accessible to people with intellectual disabilities.

Contains fulltext : 227106.pdf (Publisher’s version ) (Open Access) Background: Interactions with professional caregivers affect the quality of support and life of people with intellectual disabilities and contribute to the occurrence of challenging behaviour. The present literature review provides an overview of factors facilitating or hindering meaningful staff-client interactions in people with borderline to profound intellectual disabilities and challenging behaviour. Method: Database searches, reference list and citation screening, and expert consultations were undertaken. A thematic synthesis of 28 studies was performed. Results: Factors were identified at the client (i.e. behaviour, emotions and (dis)abilities), staff (i.e. interactive principles, knowledge, psychological resources, attributions, attitudes and (coping with) emotions) and context levels (i.e. group size, team and organization). Conclusions: The present overview provides insights into factors that facilitate or hinder meaningful staff-client interactions with people with intellectual disabilities and challenging behaviour. The results support the need to combine client, staff and contextual factors when considering staff-client interactions in research and practice. 13 p.

© 2020, Springer Nature Switzerland AG. This review paper reflects on the existing literature on cognitive behaviour therapy for adults, adolescents and children with intellectual disabilities. People with intellectual disabilities have high rates of comorbid mental health disorders, but low rates of accessing treatments with limited treatment options available to them. Historically, they have been excluded from cognitive-based therapies such as cognitive behaviour therapy. However, recent research has shown that people with mild to moderate intellectual disabilities do have the capacity to engage in cognitive-based interventions. The review highlights the progress that has been made in the field of adapting CBT for people with intellectual disabilities, as well as the current gaps in the literature and suggestions for future research.

Given the crucial role professionals play in maintaining the well-being of people with intellectual disabilities, their views on work satisfaction are relevant to analyse. A comparative analysis that takes into account the support provided in different welfare organisations can be of certain importance. The aim is to analyse the most common aspects of professional work satisfaction in work with people with intellectual disabilities in schools, healthcare, and social services, and to apply a comparative analysis of such experience taking into account respondents' organisational affiliations. Data were collected using a digital questionnaire. Given the aim of the study, we drew on one open-ended question: 'describe aspects of your work that are most satisfactory for you'. The analysis shows that respondents associated positive work experience with seven aspects: autonomy, competence, nature of the work, collaboration, trust and recognition, work environment, and service users. Findings indicate that discretion is an important facet of work satisfaction among respondents in all three organisations. Flexibility, autonomy in decision-making, the ability to plan and act within certain institutional and legal frameworks, and the ability to prioritise among daily work assignments are empirical examples of this.

People with intellectual disabilities who experience mental health difficulties often have high levels of self-criticism and shame. Compassion-focused therapy is a therapeutic modality effective in working with such feelings. This article follows on from a previous compassion-focused therapy group study exploring the impact of two compassion-focused therapy-based groups on how participants felt about themselves. Utilizing a mixed method design, the study illustrated that participants experienced higher levels of compassion and, overall, saw themselves more favourably by the end of the groups. They were also able to understand the basic concepts of compassion-focused therapy which reinforced previous study findings, suggesting that it is adaptable and clinically useful for people with intellectual disabilities.

More than four decades after the onset of deinstitutionalization in the Nordic countries, people with intellectual disabilities in Iceland are still being prevented from engaging in intimate and sexual relationships. There are changing attitudes towards sexuality based on people’s rights to live free sexual rights. However, because people with intellectual disabilities often require daily support, they commonly lack opportunities for privacy and safe sexual expression and relationships. In this article, we present findings from qualitative research about the sexuality of Icelandic people with intellectual disabilities who require intensive support and communicate with non-spoken language. The aim is to demonstrate how the sexuality of people with intellectual disabilities who require intensive support is shaped by socio-cultural sexual scripts and the support they receive in every-day lives. Participant observations were carried out in the homes and daily lives of 25 individuals, demonstrating their reduced opportunity to make decisions. This can affect how they communicate their identity or the image of masculinity or femininity. As a group, they have limited access to education, work, and leisure and thus few resources to draw upon when forming their own sexual scripts. Therefore, they commonly rely on other people’s sexual scripts, for example those of staff and family. We discuss the pathologization of sexual behaviors and how the sexual expressions of women with intellectual disabilities have remained hidden. The findings also describe the inabilities of social and legal systems in dealing with sexual abuse among people with intellectual disabilities who require intensive support. We suggest that people with intellectual disabilities who require intensive support are seldom consulted about issues relating their personal lives, such as menstruation suppression or who assists them with personal care. We conclude by arguing that it is of vital importance to respect people’s self-determination and language.

A great deal of research has been undertaken during the last few decades regarding the life experiences of young people with intellectual disabilities (ID). However, not much has specifically focused on the friendships of people with ID. This article aims to present the friendship experiences of young people with ID who are in their transition process to adult life. It focuses on their reflections on their own friendships, the presence these friendships have had and still have in their lives, and the strengths and difficulties -if any - in managing their friendships. 11 people aged 17-19 with ID were interviewed individually. This article also intends to identify and analyse those elements that have influenced in the establishment of friendships in the lives of young people with ID, focusing on the role that both professionals and families have had from the perspective of the young people with ID. It also presents the influence that the educational context has had on the friendships of young people with ID

One of the challenges of modern societies is the access to ordinary employment of people with intellectual disabilities. In this article: 1) We will present the existing measures in the Canary Islands regarding educational attention to students with intellectual disabilities. 2) We will analyze the resources available and the processes of transit to employment from the education system and from the entities linked to employment. 3) We will examine the role of special employment centers and occupational centers. 4) We will analyze the characteristics of the Supported Employment model for access to ordinary employment of people with significant disabilities. This model, created in the United States in the 70s, has demonstrated its effectiveness for the labor inclusion of people with significant disabilities. 5) We will describe the situation of the Employment with Support model in the Canary Islands, highlighting some good practice projects. The employment of people with intellectual disabilities in the Canary Islands remains an anecdotal fact, despite the available resources and the trajectory of different specialized entities. It is necessary to document experiences, encourage research, take care of the process of transition to adult life, match economic investment in employability resources of a protected nature with those of ordinary character. Finally, it is necessary to inform and raise awareness about the ability people with disabilities to contribute to the creation of more profitable and sustainable companies.

‘There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you’ (Maya Angelou)This brief paper considers how trauma and attachment can be present in the lives of people with intellectual disabilities (ID). Trauma of a serious nature in childhood is both a heightened likelihood, and strong predictor, of negative outcomes for people with ID. However, it can also be addressed through psychological assessment and interventions, and is mediated through attachment bonds with others.

Dating agencies are a small, but growing sector of social care provision for people with intellectual disabilities. The research reported here is the first to explore, with 10 specialist agencies in the UK, why they were set up, how they operate, the barriers and problems they encounter and their success or otherwise in facilitating relationships for people with intellectual disabilities. A strong case is made for the proliferation of such services.

Antisocial behaviour in young people is a widespread issue. Young people with borderlinemild Intellectual Disabilities (ID) are often not recognised or provided with support for their learning and are more likely to engage in antisocial behaviour than young people without ID (Hall, 2000). Research has indicated that these young people benefit from systemic psychological interventions which target the systems around them (Tausendfreund et al., 2016). Whilst the literature base for interventions that reduce behaviour problems is vast, there has been limited research for young people with borderline-mild ID and there have been no previous systematic reviews focused on this group. The objective was to discover which systemic psychological interventions are effective for young people with borderline-mild ID and significant behaviour problems. PsychINFO and Web of Science databases were searched and after duplicates removal, 4018 articles were screened via titles and abstracts. 3862 records were excluded at that stage, and a further 150 were excluded at the full text screening stage. One additional paper was identified, resulting in seven studies included in this review. The Quality Appraisal Checklist for Quantitative Intervention Studies (QACQIS) (NICE, 2012) was used to analyse methodological quality. Methodological quality varied in accordance with study design. Six different systemic psychological interventions were identified, and even though the research indicated positive results for all interventions, it was concluded that Parent Management Training, Mindfulness Based Positive Behaviour Support, Non-Violent Resistance-Intellectual Disabilities, and Multisystemic Therapy-ID showed most promise as equitable systemic psychological interventions for reducing behaviour problems in young people with borderline-mild ID. It was difficult to draw direct comparisons between studies due to variation in study design and outcome measurements. Multi-site, multi-informant randomised research should be carried out in the future.

Background People with intellectual disabilities are over-represented in the criminal justice system. The United Nations’ Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) enshrines a right to equal access to justice for persons with disabilities (Article 13, UNCRPD). Accessible information is a key aspect of exercising this right. Yet, many jurisdictions, including Ireland, are yet to develop accessible information for disabled people who may be arrested. Aims This paper describes the collaborative development through multidisciplinary and advocate consensus of an accessible (Easy -to- Read) Notice of Rights (ERNR) for people with intellectual disabilities in police custody in Ireland. Methods Guidelines developed by Ireland’s representative organisation for people with intellectual disabilities and examples of international practice were used to develop a draft ERNR by the primary researcher in partnership with an expert from a representative organisation for people with intellectual disabilities. The ERNR was developed thereafter through two focus groups with a view to achieving consensus with a focus on accessibility, accuracy and layout. This included a multidisciplinary focus group with participants from a representative organisation for people with intellectual disabilities, psychology, speech and language therapy, the police force, public health, forensic psychiatry, mental health, law and, subsequently, a focus group of people with lived experience of intellectual disability. Results Progressive development of the ERNR resulted in incremental improvements in textual accuracy as well as the inclusion of more accessible language and imagery. Originality/value This is the first attempt at developing an easy-to-read document relating to the legal rights of suspects in police custody in Ireland and, accordingly, this procedural innovation promises to assist, not just persons with intellectual disabilities, but also those with limited literacy at the point of arrest. The methodology used in the preparation of the document, employing a focus group to achieve consensus with participation from both multiple disciplines and persons with an intellectual disability, is in harmony with the ethos of the UNCPRD. This methodology may usefully be employed by other member states that have ratified the Convention but have yet to develop accessible version of the legal rights and entitlements that extend to arrested persons under their domestic law.

Summary Individuals with intellectual disabilities who might have been previously placed into segregated institutions now live independently in the community, supported by the necessary community care services. Nevertheless, social inclusion can be deemed successful only if they can positively interact with the various microsystems of the community. The disruption of social service provision due to the COVID-19 pandemic allowed us to evaluate other systems of support in the community. By adopting a bioecological perspective, qualitative methods are used to examine the interactions between people with intellectual disabilities and their social environment during the pandemic primarily based on focus group sessions with 17 social workers and 12 caregivers. Findings Three overarching themes are identified through a thematic analysis: (1) limited social ties with the community that could provide support; (2) professional support as the main source of assistance; and (3) limited resources on how to care for people with intellectual disabilities. Applications The results show that unilateral systems of support with limited participation of other systems lead people with intellectual disabilities to live segregated lives, even though they reside in the community. To fully realize the right of inclusion in society of all people with intellectual disabilities, further efforts are required to promote informal social care for people with intellectual disabilities. There is a need for a shared-care model that provides care in the community by the community through the establishment of neighborly relations and expansion of the social networks of people with intellectual disabilities.

Compared with normal people, patients with intellectual disability have poor cardiopulmonary and muscle fitness levels, and their daily physical activity generally cannot reach the “guideline-recommended amount,” which increases the risk of obesity and cardiovascular disease in this group. From the perspective of six elements of exercise prescription (frequency, intensity, time, form of exercise, amount of exercise, and progressive rate), this paper systematically reviews the current situation of the formulation and implementation of exercise prescription for patients with intellectual disabilities. The results show that the design idea of aerobic fitness exercise prescription for patients with intellectual impairment follows the six-element 5paradigm, but the insufficient recommended amount of each element is a common problem. In the design of muscle fitness exercise prescription, due to the differences of different exercise forms, the description of the six elements is very inconsistent. Although most prescription execution effects show that it is beneficial to improve cardiopulmonary and muscle fitness, there is a great debate on whether it is beneficial to improve body composition. People with intellectual disabilities are highly heterogeneous groups. In the initial stage of exercise intervention, the elements of exercise prescription need to be adjusted individually to obtain sustainable positive benefits.

This article presents how young adults with intellectual disability (ID) from Sri Lanka, who had not previously used the Internet, interacted with Google search while enhancing their web search abilities throughout three web search workshops. Considering the little attention paid to the learning needs of people with ID in the current offering of web search learning tools, we iteratively developed a suite of learning tools to support our participants when they need help in the web search workshops. We employed an iterative participatory approach, with observations and semi-structured interviews, to reflect on how to design eLearning tools that enhance the participants’ interactions with web search. The qualitative thematic analysis resulted in five distinct themes on strategies to support, build on, and develop the abilities of young adults with IDs as they engage with Google search in their native language: application of existing abilities, basic skills to match learning needs, conceptual understanding, animations to facilitate visual memory, and promoting active engagement. These themes will be a starting point for understanding participants’ learning needs and behavior on web search, which would be important for future research on learning support as well as on software design.

Rationale This paper concerns mortality and needs for end-of-life care in a population of adults with ID living in generic care homes. Methods Various sampling strategies were used to identify a difficult to find a population of people with ID in generic care homes. Demographic and health data were obtained for 132 people with ID. This included the Surprise Question. At T2, 12 months later, data were obtained on the survival of this sample. Findings The average age was 68.6 years, and the majority were women (55.3%). Their health was typically rated as good or better. Responses to the Surprise Question indicated that 23.3% respondents might need EoLC. At T2, 18.0% of this population had died. The average of death was 72.2 years. The majority died within the care setting (62.9%). Implications The implications for end-of-life care and mortality research are discussed.

espanolLas tecnologias digitales han irrumpido en la vida de las personas con diversidad funcional con la promesa de ofrecer mas autonomia y accesibilidad con logros ciertamente remarcables. La diversidad funcional intelectual, sin embargo, ha sido un campo en el que tales desarrollos han sido mas modestos y presenta aun ciertas incertidumbres. La cuestion de la autonomia, concretamente, plantea problemas en su puesta en practica, especialmente cuando se la piensa desde la idea de sujeto individual autonomo capaz de tomar decisiones por cuenta propia. A traves de un trabajo de caracter etnografico realizado en un servicio de vida independiente en Cataluna, se lleva a cabo el analisis de dos casos de implantacion de tecnologia para facilitar la autonomia de personas con diversidad funcional intelectual. A partir de la comparacion entre los dos casos, hemos mostrado como el resultado final de las experiencias tiene mucho que ver con las interacciones que se dan entre las diferentes concepciones de autonomia que se encuentran presentes y la manera en que se concibe el papel de la tecnologia en la consecucion de la vida independiente. Pensar toda la red de relaciones que se establece como un conjunto de equilibrios precarios aparece en este trabajo como la clave del exito que debe permitir lidiar entre asuntos tan complejos como la autonomia, el derecho a decidir y el acompanamiento no invasivo en el dia a dia de las personas con diversidad funcional. EnglishDigital technologies have burst into the lives of people with disabilities with the promise of offering more autonomy and accessibility with remarkable achievements in some areas. Learning disability, however, has been a field in which such developments have been more modest and still presents certain uncertainties. The issue of autonomy, in particular, poses problems in its implementation, especially when it is considered from the point of view of an autonomous individual subject capable of making independent decisions. Through an ethnographic study carried out in an independent living service in Catalonia, we analyzed two cases of technology implemented to facilitate the autonomy of people with learning disabilities. From the comparison between the two cases, we have shown how the final outcome of the experiences has much to do with the interactions between the different conceptions of autonomy that are present and the way in which the role of technology in achieving independent living is conceived. The study identifies that thinking about the whole network of relationships that is established as a set of precarious balances is critical to dealing with complex matters such as the right to decide, the autonomy or non-invasive support in the daily life of people with learning disabilities. portuguesAs tecnologias digitais tem entrado na vida de pessoas com diversidade funcional com a promessa de oferecer mais autonomia e acessibilidade com conquistas certamente notaveis. A diversidade funcional intelectual, entretanto, tem sido um campo em que tais desenvolvimentos tem sido mais modestos e ainda apresentam certas incertezas. A questao da autonomia, especificamente, suscita problemas em sua implementacao, principalmente quando e pensada a partir da ideia de um sujeito individual autonomo capaz de tomar decisoes por conta propria. Atraves de um trabalho etnografico realizado em um servico de vivencia independente na Catalunha, a analise de dois casos de implementacao de tecnologia e realizada para facilitar a autonomia de pessoas com diversidade funcional intelectual. A partir da comparacao entre os dois casos, mostramos como o resultado final das experiencias tem muito a ver com as interacoes que ocorrem entre as diferentes concepcoes de autonomia que estao presentes e a forma como o papel da autonomia e concebido. na busca de uma vida independente. Pensar em toda a rede de relacoes que se estabelece como um conjunto de equilibrios precarios surge neste trabalho como a chave do sucesso que deve permitir lidar com questoes complexas como a autonomia, o direito de decidir e o acompanhamento nao invasivo no dia-a-dia. hoje. de pessoas com diversidade funcional.