This thesis reports the results of a comparison of the experiences of community
participation between two groups of people - people with intellectual disability
and non-disabled people.
An interview schedule was developed, based on the social integration
literature, government policy and a small empirical study. The common factors
from these three bases were represented in the interview schedule which
covered the areas of degree of social contact with family, friends and
neighbours; involvement in the local community; and degree of satisfaction
with the local community.
Thirty people with intellectual disability and sixty non-disabled people were
interviewed using the schedule. The non-disabled people lived in the same
street (if possible) or within very close vicinity of the people with intellectual
disability.
The findings of community participation for people with intellectual disability
reflected other research, indicating that this group had limited social contact,
and reported few friendships in the community, but participated to a large
extent in community activities and made use of community facilities. This
group were also inclined to report satisfaction with living in, and feeling like
part of the community.
For non disabled people, the findings reflect a group that does not particularly
feel like part of the community and makes limited use of community facilities.
However, this group reported regular contact with family, friends and
neighbours.
The above findings are discussed with relevance to policy, theory, research and
practice.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:ADTP/219279 |
| Date | January 1995 |
| Creators | Rawlings, Meredith, n/a |
| Publisher | University of Canberra. Education |
| Source Sets | Australiasian Digital Theses Program |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Rights | ), Copyright Meredith Rawlings |
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