A Visual Report on What Is of Value for People with Intellectual Disabilities in a Flemish Care Organisation

Background: This paper presents the findings from a qualitative research project that explored what ten people with intellectual disabilities who receive care and support in a residential care facility deem valuable for living a good life and what the opportunity to manage resources for care and support themselves means to them. Method: With the use of photovoice, the 10 participants documented their care and support, and by extension, their own lives. We describe how the project was carried out and the facilitating and obstructing factors we encountered. Results: The collected images and related personal stories teach us about the central importance of significant others to the lives of the participants and their vital role as "necessary others" who nurture a multitude of possibilities. Conclusions: The increasing policy focus on independence and self-sufficiency is opposed to the vital role of relationships in the participants' view of a good life.