Tyrimo objektas: Sutrikusio intelekto asmenų fizinio pajėgumo ir fizinių ypatybių rodikliai. Tyrimo tikslas: Nustatyti ir įvertinti intelekto negalią turinčių asmenų fizinį pajėgumą negalios, lyties ir amžiaus aspektu. Uždaviniai: 1. Nustatyti ir įvertinti sutrikusio intelekto asmenų fizinį pajėgumą negalios ir lyties aspektu; 2. Nustatyti ir įvertinti sutrikusio intelekto asmenų fizinį pajėgumą amžiaus aspektu; 3. Nustatyti ir įvertinti sutrikusio intelekto asmenų fizinių ypatybių kaitą negalios ir lyties aspektu; 4. Nustatyti ir įvertinti sutrikusio intelekto asmenų fizinių ypatybių kaitą amžiaus aspektu. Rezultatai ir išvados: Nustatyta, kad lyties aspektu geresnis fizinis pajėgumas dominuoja tarp nežymiai protiškai atsilikusių mergaičių, Nustatyta, kad fizinis pajėgumas negalios aspektu yra geresnis tarp nežymų intelekto sutrikimą turinčių asmenų, o vertinant fizinį pajėgumą pagal amžių geresni rezultatai pasiekti 14-17m. amžiaus grupėje. Taip pat pastebėta, kad lytis, negalia ir amžius skirtingai įtakoja intelekto sutrikimų turinčių asmenų fizinių ypatybių kaitą. Pasiūlymai: Norint gerinti intelekto sutrikimą turinčių mokinių fizinį pasirengimą, fizinį pajėgumą, taip pat siekiant ugdyti fizines ypatybes, rekomenduojama: skatinti fizinį aktyvumą mokyklos ir namų aplinkoje, atsižvelgti į konkrečius judėjimo sistemos sutrikimus, psichomotorines, pažinimo ir emocines, protiškai atsilikusių asmenų ypatybes ir tikslingai individualizuoti fizinio aktyvumo programą, tikslingai... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / The research focused on: Persons with intellectual disability indicators of physical capacity and physical properties. The research purpose: To identify and assess persons with intellectual disability physical capacity disability, gender and age aspect. Objectives: 1. To identify and assess persons with intellectual disability physical capacity disability and gender aspect; 2. To identify and assess persons with intellectual disability physical capacity age aspect; 3. To identify and assess persons with intellectual disability indicators of physical properties disability and gender aspect; 4. To identify and assess persons with intellectual disability indicators of physical properties age aspect. Results and conclusions: Identified that gender is better in terms of physical capacity among disadvantaged girls, and slightly mentally between the middle of intelligence superior physical capacity observed among boys. Found that the physical capacity the disability aspect is better between a slight disturbance in the persons with disabilities, and physical ability to achieve better results under the age of 14-17 m. age group. It is also noted that gender, disability and age in contrast to persons with intellectual disabilities affects the indicators of physical properties. Suggestions: In order to improve the intelligence of students in physical training, the disruption of the physical capacity, as well as to develop their physical properties, it is recommended that: promote... [to full text]

Introduction: Support staff working with individuals with intellectual disability (ID) and challenging behaviour experience high levels of work-related stress. Preliminary theoretical and experimental research has highlighted the potential suitability of acceptance and mindfulness approaches for addressing support staff stress. This study examines the effectiveness of an acceptance and mindfulness-based stress management workshop on the levels of psychological distress and well-being of support staff working with individuals with ID and challenging behaviour. Method: Support staff (n=120) were randomly assigned to a workshop intervention condition (n=66) or to a waiting list control condition (n=54). Measurements were completed at three time points (pre-, post and six week follow-up) for: psychological distress, well-being, perceived work stressors, thought suppression, emotional avoidance/psychological inflexibility. Results: The results showed that for psychological distress there was a significant interaction effect in favour of the workshop. Thought suppression was found to reduce significantly in the intervention group post to follow-up, although no significant change was found in wellbeing or experiential avoidance/psychological inflexibility. For individuals with higher levels of psychological distress at pre-intervention (GHQ>11), larger effect sizes for the interaction were found, suggesting a greater impact of the workshops on the most distressed. Conclusion: Overall, results demonstrated support for the effectiveness of an acceptance and mindfulness-based intervention in reducing distress.

The shadow of stigma theory typically surrounds the research investigation of the lives of individuals with mild intellectual disabilities. McAdams’ life story theory and methodology provide a human development framework as an alternative to the prevailing framework in the field of disability. This study moves out of the shadow of otherness and examines the personal identity making process of twelve individuals with mild intellectual disabilities in the light of human development theory. Findings dispel the assumption that individuals with mild intellectual disabilities construct their lives solely through their disability. Rather, the identity making process includes the influences of socio-cultural events, religion, mentoring, advocacy, and the lived experience of disability. In this study, twelve adults with mild intellectual disabilities completed adapted life story interviews and four quantitative measures to explore the themes and patterns of agency, communion, redemption, contamination and generativity. Additional qualitative analysis expanded the range of discovery for influences in the identity making process. Following analysis of the quantitative scores, interviewees were placed in either the Higher Generativity Group or Lower Generativity Group. Analysis occurred at three levels: within case, within group and between group. Differences between the groups emerged, such as, involvement in human rights advocacy, presence of mentors and spiritual guides, and religious beliefs. Human rights advocacy provided a rich source of generativity and meaningful connection to others, politically, socially and emotionally. Turning point narratives often contained religious and redemptive content themes. While interviewees did not narrate the majority of scenes with disability centric content, one-half of the interviewees narrated disability content in their high point scenes, suggesting the positive internalization of their disability into their personal identity. The major findings confirm the importance of studying the life stories of this population from the perspective of human development theory. This study presents conclusions that impact research methodology for this population, as well as, social work research, policy development, practice and education.

Inom barnmorskans arbetsområden vårdas gravida och barnafödande kvinnor med utvecklingsstörning. Syfte: att undersöka svenska barnmorskors uppfattningar om vården under graviditet och förlossning för kvinnor med utvecklingsstörning. Metod: Kvalitativ innehållsanalys av svar från öppna frågor. Frågeenkäten sändes till 600 slumpmässigt utvalda barnmorskor inom mödravården (n=300) och förlossningsvården (n=300). Total svarsfrekvens var 62,5 %. Huvudresultat: Analysarbetet ledde fram till tio kategorier. Tre kategorier dominerade i form av antal svar, dessa var kommunikation, information och planering. Kommunikation och information var dominerande för både barnmorskemottagning och förlossning. Vilket tyder på att barnmorskor anser att dessa är viktiga redskap i vården av kvinnor med utvecklingsstörning. På barnmorskemottagning ansåg barnmorskorna dessutom att planering av vården var viktig och förlossningsbarnmorskorna ansåg att en stor vikt bör läggas vid bemötande samt att kontrollera och följa upp olika händelser under förlossning. Slutsats: Planering, kommunikation, information och bemötande är det som barnmorskor anser som viktigast i vården av kvinnor med utvecklingsstörning.

Synen på föräldrar med lindrig utvecklingsstörning har förändrats över tid. Den utveckling som skett har lett till att normaliseringsprincipen förutsätts gälla när människor med lindrig utvecklingsstörning blir föräldrar. Syftet med vår uppsats var att undersöka hur socialsekreterare förstår och arbetar med föräldrar som har en lindrig utvecklingsstörning där de misstänker att deras barn far illa. Vi har genomfört en kvalitativ studie i form av en fokusgruppsintervju med fem socialsekreterare som arbetar med utredning av barn. Resultatet visade på att socialsekreterarna upplever att föräldrar med lindrig utvecklingsstörning har vissa svårigheter i sin föräldraförmåga - som vilka föräldrar som helst. Samtidigt konstaterar socialsekreterarna att barnen till dessa föräldrar ofta är utsatta för ett flertal riskfaktorer. En av studiens viktigaste slutsatser är att det är känsligt och tabubelagt att ifrågasätta föräldraförmågan hos föräldrar med lindrig utvecklingsstörning. Detta medför ett hinder för socialsekreterarnas arbete med dessa familjer. / The perception of individuals with a mild intellectual disability as parents has changed over time. The devolpment has resulted in that the normalization principle is considered to be valid when these individuals become parents. This group of individuals has gone from being considered as incapable parents to being considered parents like anybody else. The purpose of this study was to examine the way social workers understand and work with this group of parents and their children if they suspect that the children is being maltreated. We conducted a qualitative study using a focusgroupinterview with five participants in whom all of them are social workers working with children and families that need support. The results show that social workers experience that parents with a mild intellectual disability have some problems in their parenting - like any other parent. They also experience that the children of these parents are exposed to several risk factors. An important conclusion of this essay is that it seems to be taboo to question parents with a mild intellectual disability's parenting skills. This makes it difficult for the social workers in their work with these families.

In 2006, I began working collaboratively with People First members to use video as a means of telling experience-based stories. Although, I found little information that would help prepare me to work collaboratively with people who have been labeled with an intellectual disability. I was acquainted with participatory approaches to making video and with inclusive research methods with people with learning disabilities. After working for over two years and facing a variety of hurdles and barriers, The Freedom Tour documentary was released in DVD in 2008, and a year later, short video stories were published on the Internet as part of the Label Free Zone web-based project. After having worked intensely and with great urgency to “get these stories out,” I felt the need to pause. To reflect upon my experiences and to ask questions about the work I was doing, I chose to write stories adopting an auto-ethnographic approach. Experimenting with auto-ethnography as a method of inquiry and storytelling as a form of representation, gave me the opportunity to experience a process I had encouraged so many others to do: telling experience-based stories. I hope this study will increase our knowledge and understanding of collaborative video storytelling projects involving people who have been labelled. I also hope that by delving into and speaking from my experiences as filmmaker/facilitator, sibling and now auto-ethnographer I have contributed, if ever so slightly, to shifting our thinking about intellectual disability from a deficit perspective to an assumption of competence.

Die studie is uitgevoer om die fisieke vermoensprofiel van atlete met intellektuele gestremdheid (lG) en Downsindroom (DS) tussen die ouderdom van 10 en 17 jaar te bepaal. Die Brockport Physical Fitness Test (BPFT) is gebruik om die fisieke vermoens van die atlete te bepaal. Geslagsgebaseerde verskille vir hierdie populasiegroepe is ook ontleed. Die populasie het bestaan uit 75 proefpersone waarvan 66 intellektueel gestremd was en 9 in die Downsindoom subgroep geval het. Dit is duidelik uit hierdie twee gestremde groepe dat Downsindroomkinders, asook kinders met intellektuele gestremdheid, minimaal aan atletiek deelneem. Hoofstuk 2 fokus op die literatuuroorsig van die fisieke vermoens en oefenkapasiteit van die intellektueel gestremde en Downsindroomkinders. Data ingesamel oor die laasgenoemde is gebruik vir die samestelling van die artikels en kan apart gelees word in die verhandeling. In artikels 1 en 2 is data eerstens vir beskrywingsdoeleindes aan die hand van rekenkundige gemiddeldes (x), standaardafwykings (sa) en minimum en maksimum waardes ontleed. 'n Tweerigting variansie analise is gebruik om te bepaal hoeveel van die atlete in watter gesondheidsone val. Verder is van 'n onafhanklike t-toets gebruik gemaak om betekenisvolheid van verskille tussen die geslagte aan te dui. Die resultate dui daarop dat seuns en dogters met IG en DS oor swak aerobiese kapasiteit beskik. Hierdie atlete word aan min fisieke aktiwiteit blootgestel en gesondheidsrisiko's neem toe as gevolg van oorgewig en obesiteit. Atlete met IG beskik oor redelike goeie abdominale spieruithouvermoe en hampese soepelheid. Hierteenoor het hulle oor swakker abdominale soepelheid, skouersoepelheid, armspieruithouvermoe en handgreepkrag beskik. Atlete met DS aan die anderkant beskik oor goeie hampese soepelheid, maar swak abdominale spieruithouvermoe, abdominale soepelheid, skouersoepelheid, armspieruithouvermoe en handgreepkrag. Wat geslagsgebasseerde verskille bet ref dui die resultate daarop dat dogters by beide IG- en DS-groepe 'n groter persentasie liggaamsvet het as seuns. Verder blyk dit dat seuns met IG oor beter fisieke vermoens beskik as dogters met IG, net soos by normaal ontwikkelde kinders. Seuns met IG beskik oor beter aerobiese kapasiteit asook fisieke vermoens, vera! spierkrag en spieruithouvermoe, as dogters. Dogters met DS het verder meer liggaamsvet en toon beter soepelheid as seuns, a!hoewel dit nie betekenisvol is nie. Na aanleiding van hierdie bevindinge word aanbeveel dat intervensieprogramme in Suid-Afrika ontwikkel word vir kinders met IG en DS om sodoende hul fisieke vermoens te verbeter. / The study was done to determine the fitness abilities profile of the intellectually disabled and Down's syndrome athletes aged 10 to 17 years. The Brockport Physical Fitness Test (BPFT) is used to determine the fitness abilities of these athletes. Gender-based differences in both population groups were also investigated. The research group consisted of 75 children of which 66 were intellectually disabled and 9 diagnosed with Down's syndrome (DS). It is clear from these two disabled groups that Down's syndrome children as well as children with intellectual disabilities (ID) participate minimally in athletics. Chapter 2 is based on a literature review of the fitness abilities and training capacity of intellectually disabled and Down's syndrome children. Information gathered on the latter aspects was used in the two articles, which can be read independently in this dissertation. For articles 1 and 2, data was analysed by means of mean values (M), standard deviations as well as minimum and maximum values. The two way table of variances was used to determine the amount of athletes that needs to be placed in each of the healthy fitness zones. Furthermore an independent T-Test is used to prove the gender-based significance of differences. The results indicated that boys and girls with IG and DS had poor aerobic capacity. These athletes are exposed to inadequate physical activity, which exposes them to increased health risk due to their being overweight. Athletes with IG had good abdominal muscle endurance performance and hamstring flexibility, although they also showed poor abdominal flexibility, shoulder flexibility, upper strength endurance and handgrip strength. Athletes with DS on the other hand showed good hamstring flexibility but poor abdominal muscle endurance performance, abdominal flexibility, shoulder flexibility, upper strength endurance and hand grip strength. For the gender-based differences results show that boys with IG had better physical performance than girls with IG. Boys with IG consist of a better aerobic capacity as well as physical performance than girls, especially muscle strength and muscle endurance. The girls with DS have more body fat and shows better flexibility than the boys, although not significantly. Given the outcomes of this study it is recommended that intervention programmes be developed for children with IG and DS in South Africa in order to enhance their physical fitness performance profile and their quality of life. / Thesis (M.A. (Human Movement Science))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2009.

Transition plans and services can have positive benefits on post-school outcomes for students with intellectual disabilities (ID). School psychologists have much to contribute to the transition process, but previous studies have indicated they often have limited involvement in this domain. A national survey was conducted to assess school psychologists’ knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors in regards to transition services for students with ID. Respondents included 176 practicing school psychologists from 21 states. Based on Ajzen’s (1985) Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), the survey used in the study focused on school psychologists’ transition-related knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors. To understand the role of school psychologists in transition services for students with ID, data collection and analyses addressed (a) the underlying factor structure of the transition survey; (b) the relationship between school psychologists’ frequency of involvement in transition services and their self-reported transition knowledge, attitudes towards transition activities, and background experiences; and (c) the relationship between school psychologists' perceived importance of transition tasks and their transition knowledge and background experiences. An exploratory factor analysis was conducted to verify the survey’s factor structure, and three factors supporting the TPB framework were identified: Knowledge, Attitude, and Behaviors. Scores for the instrument and subscales demonstrated acceptable reliability. A backward multiple regression was conducted with transition involvement as the criterion variable and respondents’ self-reported transition knowledge and attitudes, and background experiences as predictor variables. Attitude, knowledge, and previous experience with the ID population were found to be significant predictors of performance of transition tasks, accounting for 63.9% of the variance combined. A backward multiple regression also was conducted with attitudes toward transition as the criterion variable and respondents’ self-reported transition knowledge and background experiences as predictor variables. Knowledge was found to be the only significant predictor of respondents’ attitudes, accounting for 26.9% of the variance. Implications for practice and policy include increasing school psychologists’ specific knowledge of transition services and transition needs of students with ID, evaluating graduate programs and school districts’ openness towards school psychologists performing transition tasks, and advocating for special education reform to modify the roles and responsibilities of school psychologists.

Die studie is uitgevoer om die fisieke vermoensprofiel van atlete met intellektuele gestremdheid (lG) en Downsindroom (DS) tussen die ouderdom van 10 en 17 jaar te bepaal. Die Brockport Physical Fitness Test (BPFT) is gebruik om die fisieke vermoens van die atlete te bepaal. Geslagsgebaseerde verskille vir hierdie populasiegroepe is ook ontleed. Die populasie het bestaan uit 75 proefpersone waarvan 66 intellektueel gestremd was en 9 in die Downsindoom subgroep geval het. Dit is duidelik uit hierdie twee gestremde groepe dat Downsindroomkinders, asook kinders met intellektuele gestremdheid, minimaal aan atletiek deelneem. Hoofstuk 2 fokus op die literatuuroorsig van die fisieke vermoens en oefenkapasiteit van die intellektueel gestremde en Downsindroomkinders. Data ingesamel oor die laasgenoemde is gebruik vir die samestelling van die artikels en kan apart gelees word in die verhandeling. In artikels 1 en 2 is data eerstens vir beskrywingsdoeleindes aan die hand van rekenkundige gemiddeldes (x), standaardafwykings (sa) en minimum en maksimum waardes ontleed. 'n Tweerigting variansie analise is gebruik om te bepaal hoeveel van die atlete in watter gesondheidsone val. Verder is van 'n onafhanklike t-toets gebruik gemaak om betekenisvolheid van verskille tussen die geslagte aan te dui. Die resultate dui daarop dat seuns en dogters met IG en DS oor swak aerobiese kapasiteit beskik. Hierdie atlete word aan min fisieke aktiwiteit blootgestel en gesondheidsrisiko's neem toe as gevolg van oorgewig en obesiteit. Atlete met IG beskik oor redelike goeie abdominale spieruithouvermoe en hampese soepelheid. Hierteenoor het hulle oor swakker abdominale soepelheid, skouersoepelheid, armspieruithouvermoe en handgreepkrag beskik. Atlete met DS aan die anderkant beskik oor goeie hampese soepelheid, maar swak abdominale spieruithouvermoe, abdominale soepelheid, skouersoepelheid, armspieruithouvermoe en handgreepkrag. Wat geslagsgebasseerde verskille bet ref dui die resultate daarop dat dogters by beide IG- en DS-groepe 'n groter persentasie liggaamsvet het as seuns. Verder blyk dit dat seuns met IG oor beter fisieke vermoens beskik as dogters met IG, net soos by normaal ontwikkelde kinders. Seuns met IG beskik oor beter aerobiese kapasiteit asook fisieke vermoens, vera! spierkrag en spieruithouvermoe, as dogters. Dogters met DS het verder meer liggaamsvet en toon beter soepelheid as seuns, a!hoewel dit nie betekenisvol is nie. Na aanleiding van hierdie bevindinge word aanbeveel dat intervensieprogramme in Suid-Afrika ontwikkel word vir kinders met IG en DS om sodoende hul fisieke vermoens te verbeter. / The study was done to determine the fitness abilities profile of the intellectually disabled and Down's syndrome athletes aged 10 to 17 years. The Brockport Physical Fitness Test (BPFT) is used to determine the fitness abilities of these athletes. Gender-based differences in both population groups were also investigated. The research group consisted of 75 children of which 66 were intellectually disabled and 9 diagnosed with Down's syndrome (DS). It is clear from these two disabled groups that Down's syndrome children as well as children with intellectual disabilities (ID) participate minimally in athletics. Chapter 2 is based on a literature review of the fitness abilities and training capacity of intellectually disabled and Down's syndrome children. Information gathered on the latter aspects was used in the two articles, which can be read independently in this dissertation. For articles 1 and 2, data was analysed by means of mean values (M), standard deviations as well as minimum and maximum values. The two way table of variances was used to determine the amount of athletes that needs to be placed in each of the healthy fitness zones. Furthermore an independent T-Test is used to prove the gender-based significance of differences. The results indicated that boys and girls with IG and DS had poor aerobic capacity. These athletes are exposed to inadequate physical activity, which exposes them to increased health risk due to their being overweight. Athletes with IG had good abdominal muscle endurance performance and hamstring flexibility, although they also showed poor abdominal flexibility, shoulder flexibility, upper strength endurance and handgrip strength. Athletes with DS on the other hand showed good hamstring flexibility but poor abdominal muscle endurance performance, abdominal flexibility, shoulder flexibility, upper strength endurance and hand grip strength. For the gender-based differences results show that boys with IG had better physical performance than girls with IG. Boys with IG consist of a better aerobic capacity as well as physical performance than girls, especially muscle strength and muscle endurance. The girls with DS have more body fat and shows better flexibility than the boys, although not significantly. Given the outcomes of this study it is recommended that intervention programmes be developed for children with IG and DS in South Africa in order to enhance their physical fitness performance profile and their quality of life. / Thesis (M.A. (Human Movement Science))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2009.

People with an intellectual disability have high levels of sedentary behaviour (Temple, Frey, & Stanish, 2006) and health conditions associated with inactivity such as cardiovascular disease (Draheim, 2006) and obesity (Rimmer & Yamaki, 2006). Physical activity has been identified as one of the most successful strategies used to decrease these health risks. Four participants with an intellectual disability were recruited from the Special Olympics Athletic Club and participated in a 9-week strength and aerobic exercise program which consisted of a face-to-face program and an at-home component. During the face-to-face program participants took part in an aerobic warm up, strength training using exercise bands, skill development, and games. The strength skills were introduced progressively over the 9-weeks and were analyzed for mastery at the end of each face-to-face session using a procedural task analysis check list. Mastery was reached if participants completed a skill three consecutive times with no prompting. However, once a skill was completed with no more then visual prompting it was added to the at-home component of the program. At the end of each face-to-face session participants planned two additional days per week to exercise in their homes. The at-home component included an interactive exercise DVD that mirrored the strength and aerobics exercises introduced at the face-to-face program. Completion of the planned exercises was confirmed by self-report in log books and conversation with the researcher during prompting telephone calls. Pre and post tests for self-efficacy and a program satisfaction questionnaire were also conducted. Three participants reached mastery for biceps curls and one participant reached mastery for triceps extensions and back leg raises. Three participants completed all six strength exercises and one participant completed four exercise skills with no more than visual prompting. Participants required less prompting as the weeks progressed even with an increase in the number of skill components being tested. Adherence to the at-home component of the program for each participant was: 100%, 94%, 94%, and 28%. A dependent t-test revealed that self-efficacy toward exercise did not significantly increase from pre-test (M = 12.1) to post-test (M = 13.3) t (3) = 2.03, p = .14. These findings suggest that adults with an intellectual disability can acquire exercise band strength skills in a relatively short period of time and some participants are able to utilize these skills consistently at home. Participants in the current study failed to improve their self-efficacy toward exercise; however pre-test self-efficacy scores were quite high.