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This practice-based article presents strategies employed in the shifting of the Community Engaged Learning (CEL) components of an undergraduate program in community rehabilitation and disability studies (CRDS) to an online modality during the 2020-2021 Covid-19 restrictions. The CRDS program, based in Calgary, Canada places high importance on CEL with a focus on critical engagement, mentorship, and community action for social justice. The Inciting Change Makers (ICM) framework, which we present here, is foundational to our teaching and learning in this field. During the pandemic restrictions, we found the framework not only supported us to engage learners in our focus areas for inciting change, but also provided the opportunity to consider ways that the online learning environment enhanced the CEL practica experience.
Using vignettes, we demonstrate the successful use of the ICM framework in an online CEL context to develop a more authentic, engaged and inclusive community of learners. Three vignettes illustrate specific approaches used to carry out meaningful, impactful CEL opportunities in a mandated online environment. Lessons from these strategies may assist similar programs in adapting their own Community Engaged Learning programs in an increasingly online world.

AbstractThis article considers the contributions from the field of Disability Studies to the conceptualization of Quality of Life (QOL) for people labelled with Intellectual Disability (ID). We suggest four elements from the field of Disability Studies that may be incorporated into an evolving QOL paradigm. The first element concerns the meaning of disability itself. Those working in contemporary Disability Studies identify societal obstacles and points of inaccessibility as sources of disablement while also recognizing the experience of difference. We suggest this understanding of disability as an interaction between a person and the social world/environment may be included more explicitly in QOL conceptualization. A responsive and adaptable definition of disability in the QOL paradigm is recommended. The second element is the recognition of relationality. The field of contemporary disability studies challenges the value of considering a person's disability as a solitary medical experience and questions the goals of independence, instead considering the value in interdependence and community. This could be included in the QOL paradigm by further emphasizing the importance of relationships and contributions of those labelled with ID. The third element is participatory design and epistemic justice, making space for people labelled with ID to contribute to research and direct the course of their own lives and supports. This element of self‐determination is important to QOL but an increase in participatory research, service, and support design in the field is recommended. The final element is intersectionality, the idea that the experience of disability must be understood in the context of other points of identity or marginalization such as race, gender, and sexuality. We recommend that the QOL paradigm should allow for these additional elements to be included in further design and research in the field.

AbstractThe effect of out‐of‐home residential placement on families has been previously studied. However, no study has examined this issue through the lens of "family quality of life" (FQoL). The aim of this study was to produce a picture of FQoL among families with a member with an intellectual disability (ID) who has multiple diagnoses (i.e., an additional condition such as a behavioral or emotional disturbance). FQoL before and after residential placement was examined. Sixteen family carers with family members with an ID participated in an in‐depth interview focusing on five areas of FQoL: stress, coping, emotional impact, family relationships, and overall FQoL. The authors found that most families reported positive emotional changes after the placement occurred, except for lingering guilt and worry. In addition, after placement, families experienced more freedom, enhanced FQoL, and an improvement in familial relationships. Coping mechanisms, including problem‐focused and emotion‐focused coping, as well as external support resources, were utilized before and after placement. These findings suggest that an out‐of‐home residential placement of a family member with an ID both positively and negatively impacts the entire family. The authors propose a number of support recommendations that might serve to enhance the QoL of the individual with a disability, specific family members, and the family as a whole.

The COVID-19 pandemic and the policy measures adopted in response have disproportionately impacted persons with disabilities. Given the increased risk of COVID-19 and the resulting health impact for this vulnerable population, governments must engage stakeholders such as community organizations
to co-design pandemic response plans. Collaboration with key stakeholders could assist in transforming services in crucial areas, such as health, where emergency policies are organized around the needs of persons with disabilities.
Unfortunately, there is inadequate data collection and insufficient emergency preparedness planning and responses for persons with disabilities. This knowledge gap means consideration of health and social policy implications specific to the needs and experiences of persons with disabilities is lacking. This research study aimed to evaluate strategies through which decision-makers could engage stakeholders, such as community organizations, to co-design disability-inclusive policy responses during the COVID-19 outbreak in Alberta.
Through interviews, the study focused on understanding the level of engagement, barriers to community organizations' engagement and participatory policy aspects best suited for co-design. Key findings from the research highlighted the participants' viewpoints on barriers, facilitators, preferences and other critical approaches through which decision-makers engage with community organizations. Results highlighted that top-down and tokenistic consultation approaches limit community organizations' engagement in designing pandemic planning and response. Inaccessible ways of consultation and navigation barriers exacerbate obstacles to stakeholder engagement. Stakeholder engagement in data surveillance efforts was unclear, and the impact assessment process needs strengthening. The study results also showed that having COVID-19 disability advisory groups at the federal and provincial levels are a robust mechanism to connect communities with the government. However, the process of influencing government decision-making and policy actions needs to be openly communicated to civil society.




Solutions are achievable. Political commitment, long-term investments and an accessible engagement environment would significantly improve stakeholder engagement. Governments must transition from traditional consultative methods to sustainable engagement practices while sharing how public policies reflect communities' input. Financial investments must create an accessible consultation environment for designing participatory pandemic policies that reflect the priorities of persons with disabilities.
Some key recommendations emerging from our analysis include:


Invest financially to create an accessible consultation environment for co- designing policies.


Consult stakeholders to develop new regulations or adjust existing ones to create inclusive pandemic response plans.


Inform how pandemic response plans include and address community inputs and concerns in a transparent manner.


Professionally contract stakeholders to co-design and communicate pandemic information.


Engage with multiple stakeholders to evaluate the impact of pandemic response plans.

The COVID-19 pandemic and the policy measures adopted in response have disproportionately impacted persons with disabilities. Given the increased risk of COVID-19 and the resulting health impact for this vulnerable population, governments must engage stakeholders such as community organizations to co-design pandemic response plans. Collaboration with key stakeholders could assist in transforming services in crucial areas, such as health, where emergency policies are organized around the needs of persons with disabilities. Unfortunately, there is inadequate data collection and insufficient emergency preparedness planning and responses for persons with disabilities. This knowledge gap means consideration of health and social policy implications specific to the needs and experiences of persons with disabilities is lacking. This research study aimed to evaluate strategies through which decision-makers could engage stakeholders, such as community organizations, to co-design disability-inclusive policy responses during the COVID-19 outbreak in Alberta. Through interviews, the study focused on understanding the level of engagement, barriers to community organizations' engagement and participatory policy aspects best suited for co-design. Key findings from the research highlighted the participants' viewpoints on barriers, facilitators, preferences and other critical approaches through which decision-makers engage with community organizations. Results highlighted that top-down and tokenistic consultation approaches limit community organizations' engagement in designing pandemic planning and response. Inaccessible ways of consultation and navigation barriers exacerbate obstacles to stakeholder engagement. Stakeholder engagement in data surveillance efforts was unclear, and the impact assessment process needs strengthening. The study results also showed that having COVID-19 disability advisory groups at the federal and provincial levels are a robust mechanism to connect communities with the government. However, the process of influencing government decision-making and policy actions needs to be openly communicated to civil society. Solutions are achievable. Political commitment, long-term investments and an accessible engagement environment would significantly improve stakeholder engagement. Governments must transition from traditional consultative methods to sustainable engagement practices while sharing how public policies reflect communities' input. Financial investments must create an accessible consultation environment for designing participatory pandemic policies that reflect the priorities of persons with disabilities. Some key recommendations emerging from our analysis include: Invest financially to create an accessible consultation environment for co- designing policies. Consult stakeholders to develop new regulations or adjust existing ones to create inclusive pandemic response plans. Inform how pandemic response plans include and address community inputs and concerns in a transparent manner. Professionally contract stakeholders to co-design and communicate pandemic information. Engage with multiple stakeholders to evaluate the impact of pandemic response plans.

Pandemics unduly burden those who are already economically and socially disadvantaged by poverty, disability, marginalization, and other vulnerabilities. Global pandemics increase disparities experienced by society's most vulnerable, as inadequacies in systems-level protections make services challenging to access during emergencies. Families are specifically at risk, especially if they experience economic and social disparity concurrently with the pandemic. This study focuses on examining the way COVID-19 has exacerbated challenges to evidence based practice (EBP) implementation for community organizations in Calgary. Here we describe circumstances that make families vulnerable, the community organizations that support these families during the pandemic, and challenges with implementing EBP. To better understand policy barriers and facilitators as they relate to EBP access throughout the pandemic in Calgary, we conducted focus groups using the Nominal Group Technique (NGT) with diverse individuals representing local community organizations. Participants articulated the structural disparities that impede access to community-based EBP during the pandemic, and recognized potential solutions. The major themes uncovered in the research, as they apply to barriers to evidence-based service provision, included reduced revenue streams, access to technology, and lack of collaborative communication within and between ministries, as well as sectors. Proposed solutions to these barriers included person-centred policy and program approaches and reciprocal partnerships.

Mandatory mask bylaws are set to be instated in both Calgary and Edmonton, and other regions of Canada in efforts to reduce transmission of COVID-19. While mandatory mask bylaws are rooted in the interest of public safety, accessibility challenges for persons with disabilities need to be considered to ensure full participation in society. This communiqué highlights some key considerations for implementation of inclusive mandatory mask guidelines.

The City of Calgary and other jurisdictions are implementing a bylaw that mandates face coverings be worn in public transit, public vehicles for hire, public indoor space and City public facilities. There are a number of important considerations for persons with disability in regard to acquisition of face masks, public participation, and enforcement of mask-wearing policies. Without inclusive design and clear communication, mandatory mask bylaws may produce numerous barriers to social re-entry for persons with disabilities. Such barriers include unequal access to face masks, social stigma, exclusion from public spaces, and disproportionate questioning or penalization (Williamson and Whaley 2020). As the economy re-opens, it is important to ensure the safety of all Albertans. While mandatory face mask bylaws have evidence to support effectiveness in slowing transmission, safe economic re-launch must be inclusive of persons with disabilities, a demographic that has been inequitably burdened by the effects of COVID-19 and unduly overlooked in pandemic response and recovery planning.

Family quality of life literature suggests that families with a member with an intellectual/developmental disability frequently face major difficulties in building social connections with others. They experience low levels of social support, face challenges in community inclusion, and are at risk of social isolation. These challenges may also be faced by other types of marginalized families. Families experiencing serious illness, families experiencing intrafamily violence, and migrant families or those seeking political asylum, for example, may also become isolated and find themselves without pathways to connections with others. We present practical suggestions intended for families and professionals interested in action and intervention at the personal, community, program, and policy levels to encourage the growth of social connections and prevent isolation of families experiencing social exclusion. The suggestions will come from families with a member with a disability and the findings of a study examining the social support of families as it relates to quality of life.

Family quality of life literature suggests that families with a member with an intellectual/developmental disability frequently face major difficulties in building social connections with others. They experience low levels of social support, face challenges in community inclusion, and are at risk of social isolation. These challenges may also be faced by other types of marginalized families. Families experiencing serious illness, families experiencing intrafamily violence, and migrant families or those seeking political asylum, for example, may also become isolated and find themselves without pathways to connections with others. We present practical suggestions intended for families and professionals interested in action and intervention at the personal, community, program, and policy levels to encourage the growth of social connections and prevent isolation of families experiencing social exclusion. The suggestions will come from families with a member with a disability and the findings of a study examining the social support of families as it relates to quality of life.

AbstractResearch suggests that individuals with developmental disabilities and challenging behaviors resulting from complex impairments tend to experience poor health status linked to lifestyle factors (including inadequate diet and poor nutrition). Individuals living in group home settings seem to be especially vulnerable, as they may often be provided with meals that may not be nutritionally adequate. This article describes how the need for a nutritional intervention program for group home staff was determined, the nature of the program itself, and the impact of the program upon meal composition and on staff and residents. Subjects were supervisors and group home staff members responsible for providing meals in four group homes to 21 residents. The program consisted of two training sessions for staff and follow‐up monitoring through daily photographing of meals, weekly communications with staff, and monthly measuring of the body mass of group home residents. The program was assessed through a time series evaluation of photograph ratings measuring meal composition. Results indicated that meal nutrition and composition improved significantly over the duration of the nutrition intervention program. The authors conclude that a meal enhancement model may be effective in improving meal nutritional compositions in group home and other community‐based settings, thus providing opportunities for improved health status.

Copyright (c) 2018 Meaghan Edwards, Trevor Parmenter, Patricia O'Brien, Roy Brown This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License. ; Family quality of life literature suggests that families with a member with an intellectual/developmental disability frequently face major difficulties in building social connections with others. They experience low levels of social support, face challenges in community inclusion, and are at risk of social isolation. These challenges may also be faced by other types of marginalized families. Families experiencing serious illness, families experiencing intrafamily violence, and migrant families or those seeking political asylum, for example, may also become isolated and find themselves without pathways to connections with others. We present practical suggestions intended for families and professionals interested in action and intervention at the personal, community, program, and policy levels to encourage the growth of social connections and prevent isolation of families experiencing social exclusion. The suggestions will come from families with a member with a disability and the findings of a study examining the social support of families as it relates to quality of life.