Dimensions of quality of life in people with intelectual disabilities

Polazeći od općeg definiranja pojma i čimbenika kvalitete življenja, u radu je dat pregled suvremenih spoznaja o čimbenicima i indikatorima procjene kvalitete življenja osoba s intelektualnim teškoćama. Navodeći tumačenja osnovnih dimenzija kvalitete življenja u kontekstu različitih teorijskih polazišta, naglašava se značaj multidimenzionalnog i interakcionalnog pristupa ovom području istraživanja. Kritički se razmatraju dosadašnje tendencije istraživanja o obilježjima kvalitete življenja osoba s intelektualnim teškoćama, s uočavanjem nesrazmjera između holističkih i ekoloških teorijskih postavki i ograničenog obuhvaćanja različitih faktora u većini postojećih istraživanja, a u kojima prevladavaju procjene samo nekih, najčešće objektivnih indikatora. Ukazuje se na zapostavljenost ovog područja istraživanja u našim uvjetima, kao i na potrebu daljnjeg razvoja do sada nedovoljno zastupljenih metoda procjene subjektivnog doživljaja kvalitete življenja osoba s intelektualnim teškoćama, osobito kvalitativnog tipa. Na kraju se naglašava značaj primjenjenih istraživanja tj. primjene koncepta kvalitete življenja kao osnove za razvoj suvremenih modela i programa podrške u zajednici usmjerenih k unapređenju kvalitete življenja osoba s intelektualnim teškoćama.Beginning with the general definitions of the term and factors of quality of life, the paper presents a review of contemporary views on the dimensions and indicators of quality of life of people with intellectual disabilities. The review of the basic dimensions of quality of life in the context of different theoretical approaches stresses the importance of the multidimensional and interactional approaches in this field of research. A critical overview of the current research on the characteristics of quality of life of people with intellectual disabilities notes the discrepancy between the holistic and ecological theoretical grounds and the limited inclusion of different factors in most research which mainly focuses on the assessment of limited scope of mostly objective indicators. The neglect of this field of research in Croatia is noted as well as the need to furthermore develop currently not sufficiently implemented methods for the assessment of the subjective perception of quality of life, especially qualitative methods. Finally, the paper stresses the significance of applied research meaning the application of the concept of quality of life as the foundation for the development of contemporary models and community-based supports aimed at improving the quality of life of people with intellectual disabilities

Dimensions of quality of life in people with intelectual disabilities

Polazeći od općeg definiranja pojma i čimbenika kvalitete življenja, u radu je dat pregled suvremenih spoznaja o čimbenicima i indikatorima procjene kvalitete življenja osoba s intelektualnim teškoćama. Navodeći tumačenja osnovnih dimenzija kvalitete življenja u kontekstu različitih teorijskih polazišta, naglašava se značaj multidimenzionalnog i interakcionalnog pristupa ovom području istraživanja. Kritički se razmatraju dosadašnje tendencije istraživanja o obilježjima kvalitete življenja osoba s intelektualnim teškoćama, s uočavanjem nesrazmjera između holističkih i ekoloških teorijskih postavki i ograničenog obuhvaćanja različitih faktora u većini postojećih istraživanja, a u kojima prevladavaju procjene samo nekih, najčešće objektivnih indikatora. Ukazuje se na zapostavljenost ovog područja istraživanja u našim uvjetima, kao i na potrebu daljnjeg razvoja do sada nedovoljno zastupljenih metoda procjene subjektivnog doživljaja kvalitete življenja osoba s intelektualnim teškoćama, osobito kvalitativnog tipa. Na kraju se naglašava značaj primjenjenih istraživanja tj. primjene koncepta kvalitete življenja kao osnove za razvoj suvremenih modela i programa podrške u zajednici usmjerenih k unapređenju kvalitete življenja osoba s intelektualnim teškoćama.Beginning with the general definitions of the term and factors of quality of life, the paper presents a review of contemporary views on the dimensions and indicators of quality of life of people with intellectual disabilities. The review of the basic dimensions of quality of life in the context of different theoretical approaches stresses the importance of the multidimensional and interactional approaches in this field of research. A critical overview of the current research on the characteristics of quality of life of people with intellectual disabilities notes the discrepancy between the holistic and ecological theoretical grounds and the limited inclusion of different factors in most research which mainly focuses on the assessment of limited scope of mostly objective indicators. The neglect of this field of research in Croatia is noted as well as the need to furthermore develop currently not sufficiently implemented methods for the assessment of the subjective perception of quality of life, especially qualitative methods. Finally, the paper stresses the significance of applied research meaning the application of the concept of quality of life as the foundation for the development of contemporary models and community-based supports aimed at improving the quality of life of people with intellectual disabilities

Community-Based Rehabilitation and the Factor Structure of Competence of Persons with Intellectual Disabilities

S razvojem novih izvaninstitucionalnih oblika skrbi i podrške za osobe s intelektualnim teškoćama postala je vidljiva potreba za kreiranjem i upotrebom instrumenata kojima će se prikupljati podaci o razinama kompetentnosti i potreba za podrškom korisnika programa. U ovom radu korištena je Skala procjene kompetentnosti i potreba za podrškom osoba s intelektualnim teškoćama, koja je izrađena u okviru znanstveno istraživačkog projekta dukacijsko-rehabilitacijskog fakulteta, pod nazivom „Evaluacija stručnih službi podrške u lokalnim sredinama“. U istraživanju koje je provedeno u suradnji s Udrugom za promicanje inkluzije, skala je primijenjena u svrhu evaluacije programa stanovanja u zajednici, koji je ista Udruga razvila. Istraživanje je provedeno na uzorku od 45 ispitanika s intelektualnim teškoćama odrasle dobi, oba spola. Uz pomoć faktorske analize manifestni prostor od 54 varijable kondenziran je u 3 latentne dimenzije kompetentnosti te je izvršena analiza mjernih karakteristika instrumenta.With the development of community-based care and supports for people with intellectual disabilities it became evident that there is a great need to devise instruments which would be used to gather information on the levels of competence and support needs the clients in the community-based programs have. This paper presents a part of the Scale for the Assessment of Competence and Support Needs of Persons with Intellectual Disabilities, related to personal competencies. The instrument was developed within the framework of the scientific research project “The Evaluation of Community- Based Professional Support Services” of the Faculty of Education and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Zagreb. The part of the Scale used relating to competence contains 54 variables in 15 fields. The research was conducted in cooperation with the Association for Promoting Inclusion (API), a Zagreb based NGO. The Scale was used to evaluate the program of community-based housing developed and implemented by API. . 45 clients of the program participated in the study. The obtained data was analyzed through factor analysis which condensed the manifested space of the 54 variables into 3 latent dimensions of personal competencies. The measurement characteristics of the Scale were analyzed

EXPERIENCES FROM THE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM – NARRATIVES OF PARENTS WITH CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES IN CROATIA

Introduction The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UN, 2006) confirms the right of children with disabilities to take part in the regular educational system. Social context determines the extent to which this right is actually fulfilled, and the social model and principles of inclusion emphasise society’s responsibility to fulfill this right. Objectives: This qualitative study aimed to document, from parents’ perspectives, how significant events and factors in the social context in Croatia shape the educational experiences of children with disabilities. Methods: Using the narrative approach, we collected the life course histories of parents of children with disabilities from three Croatian regions, and data was analysed using the Life Event History Chart Model. Results: Parents reported several factors that negatively influenced their children’s educational experiences: parental lack of information concerning rights and available support, lack of strong support from teachers, lack of coordinated assessment and support for educational inclusion, incomplete teams of school experts, lack of financial support from the local government, insufficient cooperation of schools with education and rehabilitation experts, and failure to effectively implement legislation. On the other hand, parents pointed to the positive effects of activism in non-governmental organisations that bring together parents of children with disabilities. Conclusion: This research addresses the role of Croatian society in the educational system and provides recommendations that should be taken into account to ensure a good quality of education for children with disabilities in this social context

Community-Based Rehabilitation and the Factor Structure of Competence of Persons with Intellectual Disabilities

S razvojem novih izvaninstitucionalnih oblika skrbi i podrške za osobe s intelektualnim teškoćama postala je vidljiva potreba za kreiranjem i upotrebom instrumenata kojima će se prikupljati podaci o razinama kompetentnosti i potreba za podrškom korisnika programa. U ovom radu korištena je Skala procjene kompetentnosti i potreba za podrškom osoba s intelektualnim teškoćama, koja je izrađena u okviru znanstveno istraživačkog projekta dukacijsko-rehabilitacijskog fakulteta, pod nazivom „Evaluacija stručnih službi podrške u lokalnim sredinama“. U istraživanju koje je provedeno u suradnji s Udrugom za promicanje inkluzije, skala je primijenjena u svrhu evaluacije programa stanovanja u zajednici, koji je ista Udruga razvila. Istraživanje je provedeno na uzorku od 45 ispitanika s intelektualnim teškoćama odrasle dobi, oba spola. Uz pomoć faktorske analize manifestni prostor od 54 varijable kondenziran je u 3 latentne dimenzije kompetentnosti te je izvršena analiza mjernih karakteristika instrumenta.With the development of community-based care and supports for people with intellectual disabilities it became evident that there is a great need to devise instruments which would be used to gather information on the levels of competence and support needs the clients in the community-based programs have. This paper presents a part of the Scale for the Assessment of Competence and Support Needs of Persons with Intellectual Disabilities, related to personal competencies. The instrument was developed within the framework of the scientific research project “The Evaluation of Community- Based Professional Support Services” of the Faculty of Education and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Zagreb. The part of the Scale used relating to competence contains 54 variables in 15 fields. The research was conducted in cooperation with the Association for Promoting Inclusion (API), a Zagreb based NGO. The Scale was used to evaluate the program of community-based housing developed and implemented by API. . 45 clients of the program participated in the study. The obtained data was analyzed through factor analysis which condensed the manifested space of the 54 variables into 3 latent dimensions of personal competencies. The measurement characteristics of the Scale were analyzed