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Background: The importance of understanding the needs of older people with intellectual disabilities (IDs) is obvious, but the research available is limited. This study identifies the self-reported needs of older adults with IDs and compares them with staff reported needs regarding the same older adults with ID, therefore specifying and explaining agreements and disagreements. Method: The needs of 96 older adults with IDs were assessed through the Inventory of Identification of Needs (informant and self-report versions). Results: Both older people with IDs and staff reported quite diverse needs related to all the domains assessed by the IIN: physical health, literacy, information, meaningful activity, participation in the community, mental health, basics needs and accommodation. All the mean scores of the informant version of the IIN were higher than the ones of the self-report version. Agreement amongst informants was influenced by the prominence of needs, the accessibility to and the subjectivity of the information, and social desirability. Conclusions: A consumer-driven approach implies that services should be based on the needs identified.

Background: There is a need for promoting exercise practice among people with intellectual disabilities (ID). Aquatic exercise (AE) could be a viable option in this regard.Objective: To identify and critically analyze the best available evidence concerning the effects of AE in the physical and mental health of people with ID. Methods: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and comparative studies was performed after searching within several databases up to March 2021. Results: A total of 4 RCTs and 3 comparative studies were found. Their methodological quality ranged from high to low. Aquatic interventions had positive effects on cardiorespiratory, muscular fitness and balance. Mixed effects were seen on parameters related to obesity and cognition. Scant information regarding feasibility and intervention fidelity was provided. In general, interventions details were not discussed in deep. Conclusion: Preliminary evidence shows that aquatic exercise can be prescribed to people with ID in order to improve their physical health. The impact of aquatic exercise on motor skills, cognitive function and mental health remains unclear. Further research on this topic should provide a detailed description of the interventions carried out, including information on the feasibility and intervention fidelity.

Background: This study reports the findings from a Dutch study, exploring care workers' challenges and approaches in guiding young people with intellectual disabilities in their online lives. Method: Using an inductive research design 33 semi-structured interviews were conducted with care workers. Results: Care workers report challenges that revolve around three themes: (1) the perceived intangibility of the online lives of clients and (2) Risk perception: feeling stuck between control and freedom. (3) Differences in guiding approach between care workers. Based on these results a conceptual model is presented that aims to show the connection between these challenges and guiding approaches. Conclusion: Perceptional processes may influence care workers' guiding approaches. This raises important questions about the implications of these guiding approaches on the level of support clients with intellectual disabilities receive and the effectuation of their rights and liberties under the 2006 United Nations (UN) Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

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 climbing activities on the physical fitness of people with ID. This is a randomised, controlled trial. In total, 68 people with diagnosed mild or moderate intellectual disabilities took part in the study. An experimental group participated in the activities on an artificial climbing wall for a period of 15 weeks. The assessment of physical fitness included selected samples from the Eurofit and Eurofit Special tests set. Statistical analysis was carried out with Statistica 13 programme. After the end of the programme, the balance measured by a walk on a bench and the strength of upper limbs assessed by bent arm hang test, push a 2 kg medicine ball and dynamometric measurement of handgrip force were significantly improved in the experimental group. The index of the relative strength of both limbs, depending on body weight, also increased. Participation in climbing activities has a positive effect on the level of some components of the physical fitness of people with ID and maybe an alternative form of therapy.

People with intellectual disabilities (ID) are vulnerable to multiple long-term conditions (MLTC). However, in the UK, there are no individual strategies tailored for them. This study synthesised evidence on prevalence of MLTC in people with ID alongside risk factors, outcomes and preventative strategies. The scoping review used the tool Abstrackr to search retrieved articles from three bibliographic databases. Of 933 articles initially screened and further identified, 20 papers met our inclusion criteria. Our findings revealed significant data on prevalence of MLTC in people with ID across the studies, but very limited data on clusters or patterns of co-occurrence in this population. The majority of papers explored risk factors and strategies for prevention of MLTC, but far fewer compared outcomes by MLTC. The identified gaps in the literature indicate the need for further research to identify clusters of MLTC and tailored prevention strategies to reduce poor outcomes in this population.

Introduction: The assessment of well-being is crucial for measuring the effects of psychosocial interventions in people with intellectual disabilities. The aim of this study was to adapt and validate a measure of integrative well-being, the Pemberton Happiness Index (PHI) to use it specifically for this population. Methods: The Pemberton Happiness Index was first tailored to individuals with intellectual disabilities (PHI-Intellectual Disabilities). Then a sample of 130 adults with mild-moderate intellectual disabilities completed this adapted version alongside other well-being and affective measures. Results: The psychometric properties of this new PHI-Intellectual Disabilities were shown to be very good (i.e., internal consistency, convergent and incremental validity). Conclusion: The study provides initial evidence of the reliability and validity of a brief measure of well-being that can be used for both applied and research purposes specifically for adults with mild-moderate intellectual disabilities.

Introduction: Although existing research has explored both the benefits and risks associated with social internet use amongst people with intellectual disabilities (ID), a comprehensive understanding of the underlying reasons for this engagement is still lacking. This systematic review synthesizes literature investigating the reasons for social internet use amongst people with ID., Methods: Eight electronic databases (Cinahl, Cochrane, Embase, ERIC, Google Scholar, Medline, PsycINFO and Web of Science) were systematically searched in June 2023 and November 2024 and screened using active machine learning techniques. Studies were considered for inclusion if they qualitatively described the reasons, motivations and personal opinions of people with ID regarding their social internet use in English and were published in peer-reviewed journals. Caregivers' insights were included if individuals could not verbally communicate directly. Only voluntary social internet use was considered; interventions were excluded unless preintervention views on social internet use were reported. Risk of bias was assessed using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT; Hong et al. 2018). Data were extracted using the SPIDER tool and analysed using thematic synthesis., Results: In total, 21 relevant articles were identified. Most studies described social internet use in Western contexts (n = 19), primarily amongst adults (n = 16). Four articles specifically addressed social internet use during COVID-19. Only seven studies explicitly reported participants' level of ID, with six focusing on mild-to-moderate ID and one on profound and multiple ID. Four themes emerged: a feeling of fitting in (n = 12), maintaining connections (n = 16), making new connections (n = 14) and enhancing autonomy and empowerment (n = 10)., Discussion: The findings underscore the importance of social internet use in fostering feelings of inclusion, connectedness and autonomy amongst people with ID. These insights can guide researchers and caregivers in developing tailored support strategies that both maximize the benefits and mitigate the risks of online social engagement for this population. By understanding the specific reasons behind social internet use, caregivers can offer more personalized guidance that aligns with the individual needs and preferences of people with ID. The review also highlights a need for future research to adhere to reporting guidelines to enhance transparency and quality in the field., (© 2025 The Author(s). Journal of Intellectual Disability Research published by John Wiley & Sons and MENCAP.)

Introduction: Hypothyroidism is a chronic health condition which causes physical, cognitive and psychiatric symptoms. The prevalence of hypothyroidism in adults with intellectual disabilities is under researched., Method: Hypothyroidism was examined among 463 patients within an outpatient intellectual disability psychiatric team. Clinic records were utilised for this study, including sociodemographic, psychiatric and physical health diagnoses., Results: Among the 463 patients, 43 (9%) had hypothyroidism. Compared to those without hypothyroidism, the hypothyroid group were significantly older, more likely to be female, and had increased rates of high cholesterol, diabetes, Down's Syndrome and dementia., Discussion: Rates of hypothyroidism within this cohort of patients with intellectual disabilities were high (9%). The results suggest hypothyroidism in intellectual disability should be the focus of prospective research, in larger, more representative samples. This study indicates a need for increased awareness of, and resources for hypothyroidism in health services., (© 2024 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Background: Given the current sociopolitical climate, people with intellectual disabilities are spending more time at home. Much housing-related research focuses on informant-completed measures and quantifiable outcomes. By contrast, this article explores the perspectives of adults with intellectual disabilities concerning what they liked or disliked about their homes., Method: Data is drawn from 53 semi-structured interviews with people with intellectual disabilities in supported living or residential care in England., Results: Three themes were generated: space and place; people make or break a home; and day-to-day autonomy. These highlight the importance of belonging and the significance of other people in the creation of 'home'., Conclusion: If people are to flourish, attention must be paid to aspects of the home that provide comfort, enjoyment, and a sense of belonging. These findings can benefit professionals, family members and people with intellectual disabilities, when considering current or future living arrangements., (© 2024 The Author(s). Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Background: There are increasing numbers of ageing family carers of older (40+) adults with intellectual disabilities who convey behaviours that challenge others in the UK. It is important to understand the needs and experiences of these carers as they support their older family member to transition to different care contexts., Method: A rapid scoping review of published and unpublished literature, using systematic methods of data searching, extraction and analysis., Results: Exhaustion, reluctance to burden others, distrust of alternative living arrangements and deep interpersonal ties with their family member with intellectual disabilities mean ageing carers can avoid planning ahead. There is a lack of appropriate information, support and professional advice available. Developing trust in services is critical, as is a 'whole family' approach to planning., Conclusions: More research is vital to understand the support ageing carers receive to make choices, and how it meets their needs., (© 2024 The Author(s). Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Background: This research aimed to investigate the views and experiences of specialist mental health professionals working with adults with intellectual disabilities and mental health problems in Singapore in order to gain insight into the functioning of the local specialist intellectual disability mental health service and how it may be improved. Methods: Eight staff members from specialist service were interviewed. The transcriptions of the interviews were analysed using thematic analysis. Results: Analysis revealed four themes (1) Identifying their roles; (2) Ensuring continuity of care; (3) Disempowerment of service users and (4) Improving clinical practice. Conclusions: Participants identified the challenges they faced working with this population. They highlighted the importance of building therapeutic relationships during the treatment process and discussed the stigma that people with intellectual disabilities face in the community. Recommendations and implications are discussed in relation to service provision, improving staff knowledge and recruiting more staff to work in this field.

ABSTRACT Introduction There is growing recognition that healthcare inequalities faced by people with intellectual disabilities extend to their experiences at the end of life, resulting in calls for more inclusive research to help address these inequities. Our study aimed to address this through the co‐design of a toolkit for supporting end‐of‐life care planning with people with intellectual disabilities. To inform the co‐design process, we undertook an evidence review to identify existing tools, resources and approaches that were already being used in practice. Methods Our evidence review comprised three components: (i) a rapid scoping review of the academic literature, (ii) a desk‐based search of the grey literature and (iii) an online survey to capture unpublished resources that were distributed to services, professionals, third‐sector organisations and family members. A longlist of existing materials was appraised using an adapted version of the AGREE II instrument, resulting in a shortlist that was shared with the co‐design team. Results The evidence review played a critical role in the co‐design of a new toolkit of end‐of‐life care resources for people with intellectual disabilities. However, AGREE II proved to be limited for our purposes. Conclusions The survey was particularly useful in helping us identify resources, tools and approaches in current use. We identified evidence review processes that served to support co‐design team activities and elements that were more problematic. We argue that evidence review practices might be enhanced to better aid co‐design activities in health and care research, particularly for studies involving people with intellectual disabilities. Patient or Public Contribution This article reflects on an evidence review that was conducted as part of The Victoria and Stuart Project. People with intellectual disabilities were deeply involved at every stage of project design, delivery and dissemination. The project employed people with intellectual disabilities as members of the core research team. People with intellectual disabilities and family carers were members of the project co‐design team and the project Advisory Group. The evidence review process itself was led by academic members of the research team with contributions from colleagues with intellectual disabilities via the Advisory Group and core research team. The findings from the evidence review were used by the co‐design team to inform the development of an end‐of‐life care planning toolkit for people with intellectual disabilities.

ABSTRACT Introduction Support staff within social care settings have expressed a need for resources to facilitate end‐of‐life care planning with people with intellectual disabilities. This study aimed to co‐design a preliminary toolkit of end‐of‐life care planning approaches and resources that can be implemented in adult social care services for people with intellectual disabilities. Methods An adapted Experience‐Based Co‐Design process was applied to develop a toolkit for end‐of‐life care planning with people with intellectual disabilities. A co‐design group (the ‘All Together Group’) met six times from January to October 2023. The group comprised nine people with intellectual disabilities (including four researchers with intellectual disabilities, who also co‐facilitated the workshops), five family members, five intellectual disability support staff including two intellectual disability service managers, and five healthcare professionals. Results The All Together Group tested resources for and approaches to end‐of‐life care planning with people with intellectual disabilities, based on findings from a scoping review and a focus group study. Easy‐read end‐of‐life care planning forms were deemed overwhelming and complicated, whilst visual and creative approaches were welcomed. Three new visual resources to support illness planning and funeral planning with people with intellectual disabilities were developed: (i) ‘When I'm ill’ thinking cards; (ii) ‘Let's Talk About Funerals’ conversation‐starter pictures; and (iii) ‘My funeral’ planning cards. These three resources, alongside three positively evaluated existing resources, were included in a new toolkit for end‐of‐life care planning with people with intellectual disabilities. Conclusion Through an iterative, flexible, inclusive, and comprehensive co‐design process, a toolkit of three newly developed and three existing resources was created to facilitate support staff in doing end‐of‐life care planning with people with intellectual disabilities. Following a trialling process with support staff, the final toolkit was made freely available online. Patient or Public Contribution The research team included four researchers with intellectual disabilities (A.C., D.J., L.J., and R.K.‐B). Researchers with intellectual disability have been part of every step of the research process; from study design to data collection and analysis to dissemination of study findings.Intellectual disability service provider representatives (M.W., N.P., and S.S.) were part of the co‐design group as well. Two of these representatives were also co‐applicants in the overall project (N.P. and S.S.). The co‐design group included people with intellectual disabilities, families, intellectual disability support staff and health and social care professionals. The study was supported by a Research Advisory Group comprising a variety of stakeholders, including people with intellectual disabilities families, intellectual disability researchers, representatives from intellectual disability organisations, and policymakers.

At the Conference, Gavin was able to raise awareness, advocate for, and give advice to pharmacists from around the country about how they could, very practically, show people with intellectual disabilities positive attitudes about their medical care - things like talking to the person, taking time, looking for ways to explain simply about how to take medicine. Experience of people's attitudes Gavin was not surprised that the students in the Beunza-García et al. ([1]) study spoke positively about people with intellectual disabilities. Commentary on "Stereotypes of people with intellectual disabilities held by university education students" (Beunza-Garcia et al., 2023). [Extracted from the article]

The issue of affective and sexual relationships in intellectual disability (ID) has been hidden and even denied for a very long time. The research focuses on the point of view of professionals working in the field of ID. Through a qualitative-quantitative research design, the aim was, on the one hand, to understand whether sexuality and affectivity are topics that are addressed within the various structures through projects or courses, and, on the other hand, to give space to the representations, practices, and experiences of the professionals themselves. Data show an acknowledgement of the importance that people with ID can have sexual and affective experiences, but, at the same time, a gap in daily practices, which is attributed to three reasons: the lack of training; the idea that there are needs that are more important to work on; the difficulty of sharing ideas about this topic in the team.

Literature pertaining to open disclosure predominantly refers to acute care settings; this is the case in, for example, the UK, Republic of Ireland, Australia, Korea and the USA. There is, however, a dearth of literature regarding open disclosure related to people with intellectual disabilities. A practice example of open disclosure is presented here, following a serious adverse event in an organisation supporting adults with intellectual disabilities. The aim of the process was to openly disclose in a meaningful way to adults with significant intellectual disabilities and communication difficulties. An apology pathway was developed by a multidisciplinary team based on individual communication needs. A suite of resources was developed including easy read-picture agendas and sign language to support increased understanding of the apology. Service users received the apology first, followed by meetings with their families. This practice example has positive implications for service providers for people with intellectual disabilities.

Background: This paper evaluates the user experience of a newly developed mindfulness and relaxation game designed to teach mindfulness skills to people with intellectual disabilities. Computer-assisted mindfulness programs have gained considerable attention among researchers in both adult and child populations. However, less is known about the experiences of people with intellectual disabilities who engage in computerised mindfulness programs. The present study aimed to explore the experiences of adults with intellectual disabilities and clinicians in using a computerised mindfulness and relaxation game. Method: Twelve adults (with a mild or moderate intellectual disability) and sixteen clinicians were individually interviewed. Thematic analysis was used to analyse and generate themes within the data. Findings: Three main themes with a number of subthemes were generated for people with intellectual disabilities including the following: (1) The Process of Mindful Island; (2) Fostering Relationships Through the Computer; and (3) The Impact of the Game. Three themes from clinician interviews were also generated including the following: (1) A Good Concept but More to Do; (2) Uncertainties Around Players' Understanding of Mindfulness; and (3) The Computer as a Tool to Build Relationships. The findings indicated that participants found the game an enjoyable experience and saw a number of benefits to engaging in it including perceived improved confidence and perceived reduction of worries. Conclusions: Mindfulness can be adapted to computer-assisted technology for use among people with intellectual disabilities and may foster a number of benefits.

People with intellectual disabilities face difficulties in realising their reproductive rights in different countries and may face challenges to their parental rights in child protection systems. Some studies have explored how parents with intellectual disabilities became involved in their parenting roles, the barriers faced, their needs and types of support they received, the developmental outcome for their children, and further research has evaluated supporting interventions. However, these studies were primarily generated in high-income countries, likely due to the social development of these countries and affected by how people with intellectual disabilities are perceived by each society. Assuredly, this issue needs to be explored in other cultural contexts because previous studies have shown that gender, traditional beliefs, family structure, and religious beliefs all affect the experience of parenting with disabilities. In this article, we first focus on reproductive justice and the rights of parents with intellectual disabilities. Secondly, we explain current reproduction-related demographic data and studies of people with intellectual disabilities in Taiwan. Finally, we discuss reproductive justice and its contributions to social work in Taiwan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Direct support professionals' (DSPs') attitudes toward nutrition are important for supporting a healthy lifestyle of persons with intellectual disabilities. However, there are no instruments to measure it. The aim of this study was to compose a questionnaire and determine its internal validity. Method: The previously validated Health Enhancing Physical Activity questionnaire was adapted into the Attitude of DSPs for Health Enhancing Nutrition (ADSP-HENU) and completed by 31 DSPs. The internal validity of the questionnaire was investigated by Cronbach's Alpha and an exploratory non-parametric item response analysis (NIRT). Results: The internal consistency by Cronbach's Alpha was good (0.87, 95% CI [0.81-0.94]). NIRT showed monotonicity with wide confidence bounds and sufficient point polyserial correlations of the items. This indicates that each attributes to the overall measured attitude. Conclusion: The internal validity of the ADSP-HENU is promising, and it can be used in daily practice for evaluation or adapting interventions to DSPs' needs.

Background: Australian research indicates that post-parental care transitions are rarely planned and primarily occur following a crisis for a primary carer. This paper examines disability staff perceptions of transitions for people with intellectual disability and their ageing carers in rural South Australia. Method: A focus group interview model was used, with a semi-structured interview guide initiating group discussions. A thematic analysis methodological approach was selected to analyse the data. Results: This paper reports on the theme of Service Delivery, which has three sub-themes of Availability; Distance; and Individual Access. The key findings are presented and supported by the use of exemplar quotes. Conclusions: This research indicates a poor intersection of general and specialist services is inhibiting post-parental transitional care for rural people. Simply allocating money to the individual does not resolve the issues, and the interface between different services needs to be better considered at government level.

Background: Intellectual disability and mental health disorders constitute a major health problem globally with higher economic burden in low- and middle-income countries such as Bangladesh. In 2017, the World Bank estimated that 85% of the global population lived in low-middle-income countries. Limited research has explored health practitioner knowledge and/or confidence in the diagnosis and treatment of mental health issues in persons with intellectual disabilities (IDs) in low-income countries such as Bangladesh. Method: One hundred and ninety-seven Bangladeshi-based health practitioners were grouped into 7 main professional groups according the current Bangladeshi health hierarchy (psychiatrists; traditional healers and community workers; medical doctors; nurses; psychologists; allied health: speech therapists, occupational therapists, social workers; and others: teachers physiotherapists, administration staff). A 34-item online survey was completed, which included questions measuring symptoms of common mental health disorders with reference to the Psychiatric Assessment Schedule for Adults with Developmental Disabilities, and questions measuring confidence working with persons with IDs from the Therapy Confidence Scale-Intellectual Disabilities. Results: Participants demonstrated low knowledge of symptomology but were "confident" working with people with IDs. Kruskal-Wallis H tests indicated a significant effect of professional group on both overall knowledge and confidence levels, respectively. Traditional healers and community health workers had significantly more knowledge of symptoms than all other practitioners for obsessive-compulsive disorder, depression, psychosis, and hypomania. Conclusion: Participants demonstrated confidence, but low knowledge, in treating individuals with IDs. The development of training programs to address specific deficits in knowledge of mental health symptoms, and confidence in using assessment and assessment-based communication, is recommended.

This study aimed to investigate the disaster or emergency coping skills of people with intellectual disabilities and the factors that affect these skills. The panel survey on the lives of people with disabilities from the 3rd dataset (2020) of the Korea Development Institute for the Disabled was used for this analysis. Response data from 275 people with intellectual disabilities aged 10 years or older were analyzed. Differences between disaster or emergency coping skill levels and sub-questions of skills, according to the general characteristics of people with intellectual disabilities, were identified, as well as factors affecting the level of disaster or emergency coping skills. The results show that the coping skills level was low; among the sub-questions, the use of fire extinguishers and awareness of the location of fire extinguishers or emergency bells in the event of a disaster or emergency were also low. Factors affecting the level of coping skills were found to be the level of education and experience in comprehensive disaster coping training. The results of this study suggest that training and education on disaster or emergency coping skills for people with intellectual disabilities are necessary and that programs should be developed for this purpose. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to describe the social care provided for different age groups of people with intellectual disability, 55 years or above, and to investigate the association between such care and frailty factors for those with diagnosed level of intellectual disabilities. Descriptive and logistic regression analyses were used. Commonest forms of social care among the 7936 people were "Residential care," "Daily activities" and "Contact person." "Home help" and "Security alarm" increased with age. The frailty factors significantly associated with increased social care were age, polypharmacy and severe levels of intellectual disabilities. Persons most likely to be in residential care were in the age group 65-79 with polypharmacy and severe disability. The results indicate a need for further research of how frailty factors are considered in social care and longstanding medication, especially then severe intellectual disability hinders communication. A national strategic plan for preventive interventions should be developed to ensure the best possible healthy ageing.

People with intellectual and developmental disabilities sometimes engage in challenging behaviours. When behaviours escalate to the point where they pose imminent risk to the safety of people and environments, a crisis occurs that jeopardises community living and participation. In these situations, timely access to crisis stabilisation services is required. We conducted a systematic review of the literature to synthesise evidence on effective crisis stabilisation service models for challenging behaviours. A total of 46 publications met the inclusion criteria. The literature describes a spectrum of crisis stabilisation services of varying intensities including: outreach, outpatient, inpatient, respite, and capacity building through education and training. However, there is limited guidance on how to best structure service models. This review highlights the need for comprehensive and person-centred programme evaluations.

A complete theory of the permissibility of sex must not only determine the permissibility of sex between typical adult humans. In addition, it must also adequately take into consideration sex acts involving non-human animals, children, and humans with intellectual disabilities. However, when trying to develop a nondiscriminatory account that includes these beings, two worrying problems of animal sex arise. To surpass them, I argue for a reformulation of the standard theory. To produce a truly inclusive account our theory should be focused on assent, dissent, the significance of sex, and the similarity of the beings engaging in the sex act. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to identify whether an intervention with capoeira changes the psychomotor profile of people with Intellectual Disabilities (ID). This condition (ID) is characterized by global developmental delay, notably neurological and psychomotor aspects. For this study, 20 students from a specialized educational service diagnosed with ID were divided into two groups (control [CON] and intervention [INT]). After the interventions, the CON group indicated progress in the tonicity and balance factors, while in the INT group, the balance factors, body awareness, spatio-temporal structure, global praxis, fine praxis and total test score improved. We conclude that a capoeira intervention program for people with ID improves the psychomotor profile of participants. Keywords: Person with disabilities, psychomotor development, psychomotor evaluation, motor skills, executive functions, Intellectual disability (ID) is characterized by significant limitations in both intellectual functioning and adaptive behavior, expressed in conceptual, social, and practical skills (Schalock et al., 2021). The ID occurs during [...]