Relationships Intellectual Disability
Introduction
In this assignment the writer will discuss the concept of relationships for people with an intellectual disability. Due to a limit in word count the writer will focus mainly on social relationships and friendships for people with an intellectual disability while also discussing the benefits and relevance these friendships and relationships have for an individual. The writer will begin with a brief introduction of how people with an intellectual disability were prevented from developing friendships in the past and how society now perceives people with an intellectual disability developing social relationships and friendships. The writer will also discuss barriers that the individual may face and what support systems care staff can put in place to widen social networks and how to assist the person with an intellectual disability to form and maintain friendships and social relationships.
Main body.
Gates (2007) states that a good range of relationships are essential to individual well being and one of the key elements to empowerment. Mirfin-Veitch (2003) supports this statement and suggests that the lack of friendships and positive social relationships has been linked to poor mental health and wellbeing for adults with an intellectual disability. Historically, people with an intellectual disability have been denied the opportunity to develop and maintain relationships as segregation and institutionalisation inhibited any type of personal social relationship or friendship. However, with the planned closure of institutions from the late 1960’s onwards and values that stemmed from Wolf Wolfensberger, attitudes towards people with an intellectual disability turned towards inclusion into the community (Gates, 2007). Inclusion can be defined as having positive reciprocal relationships, being involved and included in the community which in turn, enables the person with an intellectual disability enjoy ordinary life (Department of Health, 2001).
In this assignment the writer will discuss the concept of relationships for people with an intellectual disability. Due to a limit in word count the writer will focus mainly on social relationships and friendships for people with an intellectual disability while also discussing the benefits and relevance these friendships and relationships have for an individual. The writer will begin with a brief introduction of how people with an intellectual disability were prevented from developing friendships in the past and how society now perceives people with an intellectual disability developing social relationships and friendships. The writer will also discuss barriers that the individual may face and what support systems care staff can put in place to widen social networks and how to assist the person with an intellectual disability to form and maintain friendships and social relationships.
Main body.
Gates (2007) states that a good range of relationships are essential to individual well being and one of the key elements to empowerment. Mirfin-Veitch (2003) supports this statement and suggests that the lack of friendships and positive social relationships has been linked to poor mental health and wellbeing for adults with an intellectual disability. Historically, people with an intellectual disability have been denied the opportunity to develop and maintain relationships as segregation and institutionalisation inhibited any type of personal social relationship or friendship. However, with the planned closure of institutions from the late 1960’s onwards and values that stemmed from Wolf Wolfensberger, attitudes towards people with an intellectual disability turned towards inclusion into the community (Gates, 2007). Inclusion can be defined as having positive reciprocal relationships, being involved and included in the community which in turn, enables the person with an intellectual disability enjoy ordinary life (Department of Health, 2001).
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