Journal of Intellectual Disabilities最新文献

Background: Although disability rights have expanded, ageing continues to impose relational and structural barriers that restrict self-determination among older adults with intellectual disabilities, especially in Latin American contexts. Method: This study explored the experiences of self-determination among older adults with intellectual disabilities living in community settings in Chile. A qualitative, exploratory design was applied. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 105 participants aged 45-85 years from family homes, day centers, and supported living programs. Data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis guided by the Theory of Causal Agency. Results: Participants reported highly variable opportunities for daily decision-making. Respectful listening, communicative accessibility, and flexible supports fostered emotional well-being and motivation, while rigid routines, overprotection, and communication barriers constrained autonomy. Conclusions: Self-determination in later life is relationally and structurally mediated. Strengthening individualized, consistent decision-making opportunities is essential to promote dignity, agency, and social inclusion among ageing adults with intellectual disabilities.

Youth with intellectual disability and autism spectrum disorder increasingly access postsecondary education in many countries around the world. To ensure students are ready to access these options, preparation for postsecondary education must be part of their transition services. This study examines the postsecondary education preparation experiences of youth with intellectual disability and autism using the National Longitudinal Transition Study 2012 dataset to identify the extent to which these youth are accessing preparation activities and if this preparation differs from youth in other groups. Findings indicate few differences between the postsecondary education preparation of youth with intellectual disability and autism and autism without intellectual disability but highlight substantial differences in several preparation activities when compared with youth in other groups.

Decades of research indicate social support is vital for retaining teachers. However, little is known about social support for teachers serving students with extensive support needs. The purpose of this study was to explore whether collective social assets (administrative support, colleague support, paraeducator support, school culture) were associated with retaining special education teachers (SETs) who serve students with extensive support needs (e.g., intellectual disability, autism). Stepwise regression analyses and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) were used to analyze survey data from SETs across the United States. Results showed that positive social supports are critical, and teachers serving students with autism reported the highest levels of social support in three of the four social assets categories. Implications for future research and practice are discussed, as well as a need to promote and better understand positive school culture as this variable weighed heavily across SETs.

This study explores Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and Game-Based Learning (GBL) to promote the inclusion of secondary school students with intellectual disabilities. Through qualitative methods, including participant observation and post-workshop interviews, the impact of these methodologies was assessed on 31 students, including 5 with intellectual disabilities. The findings highlight how these methodologies enhance accessibility, motivation, and learning outcomes, developing narrative skills and fostering creativity. Challenges in curriculum integration and active student participation are also addressed. This study underscores the transformative potential of UDL and GBL in inclusive education, significantly improving the educational experience for students of varying abilities.

The effectiveness of a school based Early Intensive Behavioural Intervention (EIBI) program was assessed over a two-year period for a cohort of 16 pre-school children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and their families. Children with a mean age of 40 months, were assessed prior to intervention, after 1 year of intervention, and again after 2 years. Significant improvements were observed on measures of adaptive behaviour, communication ability and challenging behaviour. Parents of children attending the program also reported increased familial quality of life, specifically improved emotional and physical well-being and increased parenting capacity over the duration of the program. The current study suggests that EIBI for young children with ASD can be effective in facilitating improvements in communication ability, reducing challenging behaviours and improving quality of life for families. Children's pre-intervention adaptive skills appeared to be the strongest predictor of post intervention gains as initial level of adaptive ability was positively related to improved post-intervention outcomes.

Educational transformation in the university environment requires updating the basic skills of all university students to the educational moment in which they find themselves. This study aimed to determine the basic skills in the use of information and communications technology that were identified as known, both conceptually and procedurally, in 15 university students with intellectual disabilities. To ascertain the importance of digital skills and information and communications technology tools, a descriptive, cross-sectional, pre-post study was conducted. Descriptive results and statistical analyses are presented with a t-test for independent samples for the variables with a normal distribution, assuming a hypothesis that the post values would be greater than those obtained pre. It was confirmed that there is an increase in the perceived procedural knowledge and skills in different digital tools based on participants' self-perception (p < 0.0001).

All people have the right to learn reading. Understanding the factors influencing reading proficiency among students with intellectual disabilities is important for developing effective instructions. To accurately assess reading, suitable assessments that can effectively differentiate between low performance levels are necessary. We analyse results of 400 students (43 students with intellectual disabilities) in a digital reading screening and investigate the influence of disability severity, grade level and special educational needs status on the reading abilities of students with intellectual disabilities. The results indicate that the screening is suitable for assessing students with intellectual disabilities. A newly developed digital screening test for flash reading measures reliably. All presumed factors significantly impact the reading proficiency. However, substantial overlap exists between students with intellectual disabilities and those with other special needs. The necessity for structured reading interventions, irrespective of the disability label, and the importance of appropriate assessments for all students are discussed.

The active inclusion of students within education systems relies on a curriculum that caters to all. This article presents partial findings from Australian mixed methods research examining 46 teacher perspectives on the curriculum and its ability to support their practice in supporting students aged 12-19 years with severe intellectual disability or profound and multiple learning difficulties who attend specialist school settings. Results reveal that Australian teachers see the current curriculum as insufficient in its design and content and unable to cater to their students educational and social capacities or needs. Strengths essential to the reform process are highlighted, emergent challenges discussed and recommendations for future action are presented.

Learning Potential tests aim to assess cognitive functioning using mediation strategies by observing subsequent changes in learning patterns. In this study, this methodology was applied with the Preschool Learning Potential and Abilities Scale and two additional tests, the Kaufman Brief Intelligence Test and the Battery of Aptitudes for School Learning I, to a total of 58 children with Down Syndrome, at four and six years of age. The results demonstrate improvements in general intelligence, learning potential, and school aptitudes between the two timepoints. There was a significant, positive relationship between the variables measured in the different tests, as well as on the predictive variables of school aptitudes, in these children at six years of age. There is evidence that supports the use of this dynamic evaluation methodology, opening new fields of action in child evaluation processes.