Page 75 - Social networks of people with mild intellectual disabilities: characteristics and interventions
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Comparison of Social Networks
4.1 Introduction
According to the United Nations Convention of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, people with disabilities have the right to live in the community with
choices equal to others (United Nations, 2006; Hewitt, Nord, Bogenschutz, &
Reinke, 2013). This right is translated into policy worldwide, for instance in the
United States in creating opportunities for community living (Hewitt et al., 2013)
and in the United Kingdom, where people with disabilities are considered as
citizens participating in all aspects of community and in control of the decisions
in their lives (Department of Health, 2009). In the Netherlands —under the
influence of the Dutch Social Support Act (Wet maatschappelijke ondersteuning,
2007)— more and more vulnerable people (e.g. elderly people or people
with disabilities or disorders) are living independently in the community with
the aim to participate in society (de Klerk, Gilsing, & Timmermans, 2010; Lub, 4 Uyterlinde, & Schotanus, 2010). Physical presence in the community, however,
does not guarantee real social inclusion, just as taking part in an activity does not guarantee meaningful social contact (Ager, Myers, Kerr, Myles, & Green, 2001). Real inclusion means supporting people to become connected, be part of the place or activity and belong (Gomez, 2013). Instead of moral imperatives of mainstreaming and independent living for all, meaningful activity and social relationships are needed to become someone instead of be placed somewhere (Clegg, Murphy, Almack, & Harvey, 2008). Research shows that professionals play an important role in facilitating social inclusion by mapping these social networks and supporting the person in expanding or strengthening his or her social network, if required (e.g. Abbott & McConkey, 2006; van Asselt-Goverts, Embregts, Hendriks, & Frielink, 2014). To achieve this, it is important to investigate the social networks of these vulnerable people living in the community. What are the characteristics of their social networks? How satisfied are they with their networks and what are their wishes with respect to them? In this article, we focus on two specific groups: high-functioning adults with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and adults with mild intellectual disabilities (ID), because both these target groups experience difficulties in developing and maintaining social contacts. We compare the networks of these two groups with one another and with the networks of a reference group. Although people with ASD and ID both have limitations with respect to social contact, the nature and consequences of these limitations differ.
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