Photovoice as Participatory Action Research Tool for Engaging People With Intellectual Disabilities in Research and Program Development

Author(s):  
Janine M. Jurkowski
Author(s):  
Shaw Tearle ◽  
Sam S. ◽  
Rachel R. Holt

Purpose There is a need to evaluate an adapted Equipping Youth to help One Another (EQUIP) programme for people with intellectual disabilities and forensic needs. The purpose of this paper is to explore a service user’s experience of completing the intervention as part of their transition into the community. Design/methodology/approach A collaborative case report was used. Following hospital discharge and completion of the adapted EQUIP programme, one service user with mild intellectual disability was supported to share their treatment experiences using participatory action research. Findings Findings suggest that while the adapted community EQUIP group can support skills acquisition (e.g. problem-solving), discharge processes and community reintegration, professionals need to maintain a person-centred approach mindful of participants’ complex emotional journeys. Research limitations/implications The design allows for tentative conclusions to be made about the service user’s journey and is not necessarily generalisable. Practical implications There is a pressing need to develop the evidence base for interventions offered in the community to people with intellectual disabilities and a history of offending. This report provides some evidence that EQUIP can be adapted to support this population. Originality/value This is the first coproduced publication exploring the experience of a service user with intellectual disability who completed an adapted EQUIP programme.


2018 ◽  
Vol 38 (1) ◽  
pp. 43-52
Author(s):  
Kristen Love ◽  
Martha Mock

Students with intellectual disabilities have a unique pathway into college, and for many rural areas, this is a relatively new pathway. The reauthorization of the Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008 (P.L. 110-315) prioritizes inclusive postsecondary education opportunities with an emphasis on students accessing academic, social, and meaningful employment experiences. However, in this legislation, inclusion is vaguely defined and left to postsecondary education institutions to structure within their program model. This article provides perspectives from students with intellectual disabilities from a postsecondary education program situated on a college campus in a rural town. Through participatory action research, students shared their experiences using a variety of communication modalities and offered a meaningful perspective on the challenges and opportunities faced in a rural setting.


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