Page 105 - Social networks of people with mild intellectual disabilities: characteristics and interventions

Expanding and Strengthening Social Networks
interventions and support-based interventions. Both interventions appeared to be effective and a combination of interventions is recommended (Carter & Hughes, 2005). A second study involved a ‘social participation project’ in which people with ID or a psychiatric disorder participated. A total of 10 specific interventions or improvements were reported and varied from mapping client needs/wishes to deploying volunteers (Broer, Nieboer, Strating, Michon, & Bal, 2011). Many of the teams reported using the interventions before the project was initiated but nevertheless using them in a better way following intervention; only a few new interventions concerning the neighbourhood and the community had to be introduced (Broer et al., 2011). In the end, clients’social networks did not expand as a result of the project, but they did experience less loneliness. A distinction was made between an individualizing approach with a focus on individual clients and their wishes versus a normalization approach with a focus on increased participation in the ‘normal’ community (Broer et al., 2011).
In sum, we know that the social networks of people with ID are important
and which types of social network interventions exist, but we do not know
the extent to which and how support staff for young adults with mild ID use 5 available network interventions. Before undertaking an intervention, thus, it
is important that the workability of the intervention be examined. And the
objective of the present research was therefore to explore the experiences of professionals with regard to strengthening and expanding the social networks
of clients with mild ID.
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