Meeting the communication support needs of children and young people with intellectual disabilities in the Bolivian Andes

TY - JOUR

T1 - Meeting the communication support needs of children and young people with intellectual disabilities in the Bolivian Andes

AU - Buell, Susan

AU - Chadwick, Darren

PY - 2017/9/1

Y1 - 2017/9/1

N2 - Services available for people with disabilities in Bolivia tend to be fragmented and costly. Children and adults with intellectual disabilities are more likely to have a related communication disability and are thus both literally and metaphorically excluded from having a voice. The following research aimed to explore the experiences of accessing services by people with communication disabilities in Bolivia through semi-structured interviews and one focus group carried out with family members, professionals, service providers, educators and policymakers. It aimed to establish the nature of current services in Bolivia where knowledge, information and resources are scarce. Findings indicated the need to consider an alternative to a medical model approach through a focus on empowering other stakeholders to participate more fully in meeting communication support needs. Conclusions plot ideas for future service delivery and emphasize the central power of sharing practical and expert knowledge.

AB - Services available for people with disabilities in Bolivia tend to be fragmented and costly. Children and adults with intellectual disabilities are more likely to have a related communication disability and are thus both literally and metaphorically excluded from having a voice. The following research aimed to explore the experiences of accessing services by people with communication disabilities in Bolivia through semi-structured interviews and one focus group carried out with family members, professionals, service providers, educators and policymakers. It aimed to establish the nature of current services in Bolivia where knowledge, information and resources are scarce. Findings indicated the need to consider an alternative to a medical model approach through a focus on empowering other stakeholders to participate more fully in meeting communication support needs. Conclusions plot ideas for future service delivery and emphasize the central power of sharing practical and expert knowledge.

KW - Bolivia

KW - communication disabilities

KW - intellectual disability

KW - service provision

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85027586310

U2 - 10.1177/1744629517707086

DO - 10.1177/1744629517707086

M3 - Article

C2 - 28812965

AN - SCOPUS:85027586310

SN - 1744-6295

VL - 21

SP - 220

EP - 234

JO - Journal of Intellectual Disabilities

JF - Journal of Intellectual Disabilities

IS - 3

ER -