Page 12 - Social networks of people with mild intellectual disabilities: characteristics and interventions

Chapter 1
1.1 Introduction
Support for people with intellectual disabilities (ID) has greatly changed over the past decades. The focus has shifted from limitations in intelligence and skills to the individual functioning as a whole, using the concept of “quality of life” (QOL) to evaluate their general well-being. Social inclusion, participation and social networks are generally seen as important domains of QOL (Buntinx & Schalock, 2010). These changes have been translated into policy and legislation changes, resulting in more and more people with ID living in the community and receiving individualized support. Support should be provided primarily by family, friends and neighbours; only if that is not sufficient, are people considered for general or tailor made services (Wet maatschappelijke ondersteuning [Social Support Act], 2015). Research shows that there are benefits from community living for the social inclusion of people with ID (Forrester-Jones et al., 2006; McConkey, 2007; Robertson et al., 2001). However, physical presence in the community does not guarantee real social inclusion. Indeed, the social networks of people with ID are often small (e.g. Verdonschot, de Witte, Reichrath, Buntinx, & Curfs, 2009) and people with ID feel lonely more often (Sheppard-Jones, 2003; Valås, 1999). In the Netherlands, people with mild to borderline ID increasingly apply for professional support (Ras, Verbeek-Oudijk, & Eggink, 2013). This would seem to be related not only to the increased complexity of modern society and the growing expectation that people with ID will play a full part in society, but also to a lack of adequate support networks (Woittiez, Putman, Eggink, & Ras, 2014). Social networks are crucial in supporting people with mild to borderline ID so that they can cope with society and the growing expectations that they will participate and in doing so, enhance their well-being.
This thesis presents a series of studies on the social networks of people with mild to borderline ID living in the community and network interventions devised in order to enhance their social networks. This general introduction will provide the necessary background information about social inclusion, policy, people with ID, their social networks and network interventions. This chapter ends with the aims, research questions and an outline of the thesis.
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