<p>The aim of our study has been to investigate what kind of space there is to exert influence for adult persons with mild intellectual disabilities who live on group housing. We wanted to investigate what kind of hindrance and possibilities there were to exert influence for people on group housing. Our study has been built on qualitative group discussions with 9 persons with mild intellectual disabilities and 6 care-keepers. We have analysed our discussions on the basis of the theory of empowerment. Our result indicates that there is different kind of factors that affect the possibilities for people with mild intellectual disabilities to increase their influence, and it does not always have to do with the disability how the persons can make their voices heard. Economy was one of the facts that were common for our informers own statements. The support from the care-keepers also seemed to have a big importance to enable possibilities for the persons with intellectual disabilities to exert influence.</p>

<p>In this dissertation, a qualitative research project has been conducted focusing on two theatres for persons with intellectual disabilities. The aim of the dissertation was to analyze the ideological tension between artistic practises and the institutional setting in which they are arranged. The aim of the thesis was answered through the following questions:</p><p>What happens when a new and innovative logic is introduced on a well established organisational field?</p><p>How do Rebellerna and Ållateatern translate and manage the institutional setting under which they are working?</p><p>How do Rebellerna and Ållateatern relate to the surrounding environment?</p><p>The analysis is based on a qualitative research project conducted over a period of two years on Ållateatern and six mounts on Rebellerna. Theoretically, the analysis has been inspired by disability theory and neo-institutional theory. In the dissertation I argue that Rebellerna and Ållateatern, in their formal structure, reflect two different logics, which have influenced their relationship with the institutional environment as well as with the actors working at the theatres. These logics have been interpreted as a consequence of the need for human service organizations to obtain legitimacy from the institutional environment. However, on an individual level the tension between an artistic logic and a therapeutic logic has had a social meaning for the actors working at Rebellerna and Ållateatern. It has generated a selfunderstanding which besides the role of a client to the welfare state also includes the role of an actor. These experiences have generated a stronger belief in their own capabilities and a sense of pride. It has also challenged established social meanings on intellectual disabilities. However, one conclusion in the thesis is that both Ållateatern and Rebellerna have had an impact in influence the organisational field of daily activities. Another conclusion is that the tension between therapy and art on an individual level represents an important building block to generate a formation of identity and sub-cultural belonging.</p>

<p>The number of students in the program for pupils with intellectual disabilities has drastically increased over the last decades. Most of those pupils, but far from all, are attending special classes. Today approximately 22 % are attending classes in compulsory school. </p><p> The purpose of this paper is, from a social psychological perspective, to increase the knowledge and understanding of how pupils with intellectual disabilities, partly or fully attending the compulsory main-stream school, experience their school-days. </p><p> This paper is composed of two case studies for which the empiric material has been collected through interviews and observations. Except for Patrik and Oskar, who are the lead characters, have their mothers, school staff and other pupils been interviewed. To reach a deeper understanding of the pupils experiences, the empiric material has been interpreted using hermeneutics. </p><p> The result shows that Patrik and Oskar are mainly satisfied with their schools. Conclusive for their experiences are; personal qualities, attitude and roles, organization and group belonging and finally clarification and requirements. That homes and schools respectively have adopted a common approach to their disabilities gives an increased confidence while developing their identity. Well thought out strategies for adaptation of the organization and the content of the lessons facilitates and promotes teamwork and participation.</p>

This dissertation is a study of employment and daytime activities for people defined as having an intellectual disability. The study’s point of origin is the somewhat paradoxical situation these individuals are put into when it comes to work and daytime activities. They are on the one hand granted a disability benefit and made objects for a logic of caretaking; they are regarded as vocationally disabled and defined as outside the workforce. On the other hand, they are still included in a hegemonic work ethic with political objectives for ‘full employment’ and ‘a working-life for all’. A main objective in this study has been to discuss what different types of work and daytime activities mean to these individuals themselves; what role work and daytime activities have in their identity management and self-presentation in everyday life. The study consists of three parts. Part I outlines a historical contextualisation of the relationship between intellectual disability and participation in work and production. This part also provides a brief account for the labour market situation for these individuals today, and discusses the present situation related to the official aims of the administrative reform, which closed down the state-financed institutions for people with intellectual disabilities. Part II discusses the theoretical perspectives and methodological approach used within the study. The theoretical perspectives are developed using concepts from Dorothy Holland et.al, Pierre Bourdieu and Erving Goffman. The methodological approach is based on qualitative case studies with participatory observations and interviews within the different settings where people with intellectual disability work. Part III presents and analyses data derived from fieldwork. Central elements in the meaning of work in identity management are discussed and classified in six basic ‘key stories’ about work and daytime activity. Different forms of adapted and ordinary work are discussed in context of gender roles and social class aspects.

The aim of our study has been to investigate what kind of space there is to exert influence for adult persons with mild intellectual disabilities who live on group housing. We wanted to investigate what kind of hindrance and possibilities there were to exert influence for people on group housing. Our study has been built on qualitative group discussions with 9 persons with mild intellectual disabilities and 6 care-keepers. We have analysed our discussions on the basis of the theory of empowerment. Our result indicates that there is different kind of factors that affect the possibilities for people with mild intellectual disabilities to increase their influence, and it does not always have to do with the disability how the persons can make their voices heard. Economy was one of the facts that were common for our informers own statements. The support from the care-keepers also seemed to have a big importance to enable possibilities for the persons with intellectual disabilities to exert influence.

The number of students in the program for pupils with intellectual disabilities has drastically increased over the last decades. Most of those pupils, but far from all, are attending special classes. Today approximately 22 % are attending classes in compulsory school. The purpose of this paper is, from a social psychological perspective, to increase the knowledge and understanding of how pupils with intellectual disabilities, partly or fully attending the compulsory main-stream school, experience their school-days. This paper is composed of two case studies for which the empiric material has been collected through interviews and observations. Except for Patrik and Oskar, who are the lead characters, have their mothers, school staff and other pupils been interviewed. To reach a deeper understanding of the pupils experiences, the empiric material has been interpreted using hermeneutics. The result shows that Patrik and Oskar are mainly satisfied with their schools. Conclusive for their experiences are; personal qualities, attitude and roles, organization and group belonging and finally clarification and requirements. That homes and schools respectively have adopted a common approach to their disabilities gives an increased confidence while developing their identity. Well thought out strategies for adaptation of the organization and the content of the lessons facilitates and promotes teamwork and participation.

Deficiencies in mathematics skill constrain students’ educational achievement and subsequently, their employment outcomes. This study included 265 school-identified students with mild intellectual disabilities. The research questions investigated the extent to which phonological awareness, color naming speed, and vocabulary knowledge, was related to mathematics skill after controlling for grade level via regression analyses. Further, the mediating effects of expressive vocabulary on the relationship between receptive vocabulary and mathematics skill as well as the indirect effect of receptive vocabulary knowledge on mathematics skill through expressive vocabulary were examined. The findings indicated that after controlling for grade level, phonological awareness, naming speed, and vocabulary knowledge were significantly related to mathematics skill. The mediating effects of expressive vocabulary as well as the indirect effects of receptive vocabulary knowledge on mathematics skill were also significant.

Musikterapeutisk metodutveckling, av Linn Johnels är en studie inom ramen för Magisterprogrammet i musikpedagogik med profil musik- terapi vid Kungliga Musikhögskolan i Stockholm.Syftet med uppsatsen var att ta fram och utvärdera ett instrument för att kartlägga olika musikrelaterade förmågor hos individer med grav intellektuell funktions- nedsättning. Detta är en eftersatt grupp i musikterapeutisk forskning, trots att det finns indikationer på att musik kan fungera som ett viktigt medel för kommuni- kation, känslouttryck och socialt samspel. Uppsatsen tar sin utgångspunkt främst i den biologisk-dynamiska utvecklingspsykologiska inriktningen av musikterapi. Instrumentet innehåller 43 frågor och kartlägger förmågor inom följande fyra do- mäner: Motorisk/Sensorisk Funktion, Socialt- &amp; emotionellt engagemang, Kog- nition samt Kommunikation.I undersökningen fick fyra musikpedagoger/-terapeuter/-handledare använda in- strumentet med 11 personer ur målgruppen. Resultatet visade att personerna pre- sterade sinsemellan på olika nivåer, och med delvis olika profiler avseende mu- sikrelaterade styrkor och svårigheter. Musikpedagogerna/-terapeuterna/- handledarna menade att instrumentet var användbart, och kom också med värde- fulla synpunkter inför eventuell revidering av instrumentet. Förhoppningen är att instrumentet ska kunna användas för att planera och utvärdera musikterapeutisk verksamhet, samt även potentiellt visa på möjliga processer i musikterapi för målgruppen. / Music therapeutic method development, by Linn Johnels is a study car- ried out within the context of the Master Program in Music Education, profile Music Therapy at the Royal College of Music in Stockholm.The purpose of this paper was to develop and evaluate an instrument to identify various music-related abilities in individuals with severe intellectual disabilities. This is a neglected group in music therapy research, although there are indications that music can serve as an important means of communication, emotional expres- sion and social interaction. The essay is primarily based on the bio-dynamic de- velopmental theory of music therapy. The instrument contains 43 questions andidentify the following four domains: Motor/ Sensory Function; Social &amp; emotion- al engagement; Cognition; and Communication.In the study four music educators/therapists/leaders used the instrument with 11 individuals from the target group. The results showed that the individuals per- formed at different levels, and with somewhat different profiles with regard to music-related strengths and difficulties. The music educators/therapists/leaders generally appeared to find the instrument useful, and also came with valuable feedback for revision of the instrument. It is hoped that the instrument will be used to plan and evaluate music therapy activities, and also potentially show pos- sible processes in music therapy with the target group.

Previous research has indicated that intellectual disabilities and parenting is not socially accepted and compulsory care of children often occurs in families where one or both parents have an intellectual disability. This study aims to, thru a document analysis, investigate ideas and representations of parents with intellectual disabilities that emerge in Swedish legal cases. The legal cases is about children who are taken care of according to LVU § 2, where one or both parents have a intellectual disability. The results of the study revealed that people with intellectual disabilities are seen as not capable of developing parenting ability, in some cases aroused concerns about parenting during pregnancy, these suggesting stereotypes of parents with intellectual disabilities. Of the documents reveals that social workers word overrides in the decision-making, this leads to a position of power where the parents are at a disadvantage.

Children with mild disabilities are known to have difficulties with developing mathematical skills (Hoard, Geary, & Hamson, 1999). Yet, children with mild intellectual disabilities (MIDs) have rarely been included in rigorous scientific research. The present study has three goals. The first goal was to determine the structure of mathematics achievement in elementary aged children with MIDs and children with reading disabilities (RDs) without accompanying mathematics disabilities. The second goal was to establish the measurement stability of mathematics achievement. The third goal was to evaluate students’ response to a mathematics intervention. The participants were 265 children with MIDs and 137 children with RDs. Confirmatory factor analysis and measurement invariance evaluation was utilized to determine the structure of mathematics achievement and to ensure reliable and valid measurement of mathematics achievement between groups across three time points. The results of measurement invariance evaluation indicated that a joint model specification, characterized by two groups, both of which included children with MIDs and children with RDs who were differentiated according to intervention condition participation (not disability status), provided the best account of the underlying data structure. Further, the structure of mathematics achievement in the present sample was unidimensional, and the measurement of mathematics achievement was temporally stable between groups. Finally, latent mathematics achievement growth was evaluated. The results indicated that students in the mathematics intervention condition evidenced an advantage over those in a reading intervention condition at mid- and post-intervention evaluation, while also evidencing more growth in this conceptual domain. Instructional implications are discussed in terms of topic choice and pacing.