Search results

AbstractBackgroundDespite various government initiatives, people with disabilities all over the world face some degree of hindrance when they try to contribute to society.AimThis project sought to give voice to and understand the perceptions and experiences of persons with disabilities in Singapore when contributing to society through volunteerism and employment and to explore solutions to help access and retain employment and volunteering.Method and ProcedureThis small qualitative study recruited three convenience samples of people with disabilities aged 18–49 years old who met criteria for daily activity over the previous 12 months. Participant recruitment was limited due to the Covid pandemic lockdown. Ten individuals had maintained open employment, six had worked as a volunteer and four were neither working nor volunteering. All 20 participants were briefed online on the use of the photovoice technique. Interviews were then conducted online, beginning with a 5‐min demographic survey. Approximately hour long semi‐structured interviews followed. Eleven participants used photovoice but nine who were working or volunteering did not as they were unable to take photos in their workplace. Several individuals were supported during the interview by a caregiver or staff member for example a job coach.FindingsThemes were identified within the four central areas of enquiry: (i) self‐perceptions of being a beneficiary or contributor to society; (ii) the benefits to working and volunteering; (iii) enablers and barriers to working and volunteering and (iv) solutions to access and retain employment and volunteering. Several barriers to use of photovoice were encountered. The importance of inclusive and conducive environments was recognised along with the roles of all stakeholders across the ecosystem.ConclusionEmployment and volunteering can significantly impact quality of life for persons with disabilities and their families and benefit the society. Collaboration among all stakeholders is required to better address solutions and improve desired employment and volunteer outcomes.

AbstractResearch and training priority setting can help to direct limited resources to areas, which will have maximum benefit in improving the skills and knowledge of support workers to better meet the needs of their clients. Staff from a multi‐site organisation in Singapore that supports individuals with intellectual disability and/or autism completed a questionnaire identifying their research and training practices and priorities. Staff were asked to identify their access to training and research, and what they viewed as priorities in these areas. They also completed a Likert scale questionnaire on training and research priorities identified from previous research. Response rate was 27.8% (n = 82). Analyses found that staff were more likely to rely on training than research to inform their knowledge, with training in understanding and managing behaviours identified as a priority across the organisation. Staff identified interventions and supports for caregivers as a research priority. The consensus with previous research would suggest that there are training needs and research areas, which may inform global priorities for this population.

AbstractMost people with intellectual disabilities in Singapore live with family and are supported by family caregivers. Many caregivers lack the awareness, skills and resources needed for their caregiving role. A caregiver support service designed to build the capability of family caregivers serving children and adults with intellectual disabilities was evaluated after 2 years of operation to ascertain the level of caregiver coping and resilience, perceived impact of strategies for emotional support, and satisfaction with a range of support services and gaps in service. Family caregivers were surveyed regarding satisfaction with services received using the Client Satisfaction Questionnaire (CSQ‐8) and feedback from activities and events. Their coping and resilience were measured with the Coping Competence Questionnaire (CCQ). Qualitative data from caregiver interviews and staff focus groups were analysed for key themes that were triangulated and converged with other findings. Satisfaction, better coping and resilience were associated with specific support services. Key themes emerged around several effective supports and areas of unmet needs across the lifespan. Limitations and areas for improvement were identified to meet a broader range of caregivers. Targeted family support services can enhance the well‐being of caregivers supporting people with intellectual disabilities (ID) across the lifespan. The results inform policymakers and support agencies that support of the family, not just the person with ID, is an important factor and needs to be incorporated at the heart of the design and development of any inclusive community living in Singapore.

AbstractBackgroundAdults with intellectual disability are often disengaged in disability services. While Active Support has found efficacy in residential settings, less is known in day services. This study examines the impact of Active Support in day services for adults with intellectual disability in Singapore, particularly on engagement and behaviours of concern.MethodAn experimental design was used, with a group of 32 participants receiving an Active Support programme over 6 months, compared to a control group of 16 participants with treatment as usual. Time sampling of behaviours was conducted every 4 weeks.ResultsThe Active Support group saw increases in activity engagement and social engagement with staff, and decreases in disengagement and stereotypical behaviours, compared to the control group over time.ConclusionResults support the implementation of Active Support across other day services for adults with intellectual disability. Active Support principles should be considered in planning policies and service outcome measures.