Disabilities, Volume 5, Issue 2 (June 2025) – 7 articles

There is abundant evidence that, following community transition or deinstitutionalization, persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities experience improvements in quality of life and well-being. However, very little research in this area has been conducted in the Canadian context. In this qualitative study, individual in-depth interviewing was used to explore the perspectives of eight Canadian mothers of adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities regarding their children’s residences and access to services after community transition. Within an interpretive description framework, narrative data collected during semi-structured interviews with participating mothers were analyzed using thematic analysis. Three main themes portraying a combination of positive and negative maternal perspectives emerged from the data: (1) quality of care, (2) quality of life, and (3) health status and behavior. The study findings bring attention to the importance of offering individualized community living options that are person- and family-centered to all persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Full article

Research has largely focussed on public perceptions of people with disabilities, particularly in the media. However, there is a lack of studies exploring how individuals with disabilities themselves experience public disability representation. This scoping review examines the lived experiences of individuals with disabilities regarding such representations. Eligible studies were peer-reviewed, published between January 1948 and July 2024, and presented qualitative findings on experienced public disability representation. A systematic search was conducted across PubMed, Scopus, ProQuest, OVID, EBSCO, and Web of Science using variations of the terms ’representation’ and ‘disability’, yielding 32 relevant studies. Data were analysed using both deductive and inductive methods. Deductive thematic analysis aligned the findings with two established media disability representation typologies: traditional and contemporary. Inductive thematic analysis identified three key themes—ignorance, incapability, and otherness—that illustrate how individuals with disabilities experience public representations. Overall, the review found that despite the absence of comparative studies, individuals with diverse disabilities report similar, predominantly negative experiences of public disability representation. Future studies should adopt an intersectional, cross-disability framework to better capture the experiences of people with disabilities, including those with intellectual disabilities. Full article

This study explores employers’ attitudes and practices regarding disclosing and including individuals with invisible disabilities in Greek workplaces. Invisible disabilities present unique challenges regarding workplace inclusion and the disclosure of disability. Through a thematic analysis of structured interviews with 50 employers and human resource professionals from various industries, this research study identifies organizational policies, attitudes toward disability disclosure, the perceived impacts and benefits of hiring individuals with invisible disabilities, and recommendations for workplace inclusivity improvement. The findings reveal a range of employer practices. While many employers acknowledge the importance of fostering an inclusive workplace, there are gaps in formal training and structured policies. Employers have varied views on the necessity and timing of disability disclosure, with some supporting disclosure during hiring to ensure proper accommodations and others prioritizing employee comfort and autonomy. Important advantages of employing individuals with invisible disabilities include improved workplace diversity, increased innovation, and reinforced team unity. This study recommends diversity training, clear disclosure guidelines, and joint initiatives with external organizations to promote inclusivity in the workplace. These findings offer practical recommendations to close the inclusion gap and maximize the capabilities of employees with invisible disabilities. Full article

The purpose of this study is to increase understanding of the college decision-making process for students with disabilities by listening to their perceptions of factors that influenced their decisions related to attending postsecondary education. A semi-structured interview was used to provide descriptive evidence from 20 college-going high school students with disabilities. Content analysis was utilized to evaluate the data collected. The results suggest that the factors influencing the college decision-making process of students without disabilities also influence the decision-making process of students with disabilities. Full article

Support of parents with intellectual disabilities should be long-term and start as early as possible. They, however, often come only into view late. The aim of the present study was to examine the barriers and facilitators in reaching and supporting parents with intellectual disabilities and young children in the Netherlands. Fourteen professionals, three volunteers, and three mothers with intellectual disabilities participated in four focus groups. Results revealed four themes: (1) improve professional development, (2) mutual professional/parent distrust, (3) strengthen support network systems, and (4) improve child welfare system responses. Professionals and policymakers lack knowledge of parents with intellectual disabilities and skills to build trust and support them adequately. Professional development is warranted. The informal network and involvement of fathers is limited and, thus, could be increased. Finally, the way the system is organized impedes adequate support. Long-term involvement and, thus, a different use of resources is needed. Reaching parents with intellectual disabilities as early as possible is important but challenging due to multiple interacting factors. Integral actions at multiple levels are essential to improve preventive care for these parents. Full article

In today’s job market, effective social communication is crucial for employment success. We investigated “Cog ‘n’ Role”, a novel video modeling (VM) intervention that integrates video self-modeling (VSM) and social problem-solving therapy (SPST) to enhance socio-vocational skills in individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDDs). The intervention is delivered via “PowerMod”, an application featuring ready-to-use VM scenarios and enhanced accessibility options; our aim was to examine (a) the app’s social validity and (b) the effectiveness of the intervention in improving job-related social skills. Thirty-four adults with IDD used “PowerMod” to view video clips of common workplace scenarios and rated their experiences through questionnaires. Subsequently, seventeen adults who have social difficulties at work participated in four weekly therapy sessions featuring the “Cog ‘n’ Role” intervention via the PowerMod app. Socio-vocational skills were measured through questionnaires filled out by their counselors; participants found the adapted video clips to be significantly more comprehensible and relevant compared to non-adapted video clips. Additionally, the intervention group showed significant improvements in socio-vocational behaviors and a significant transition to jobs that required higher levels of independence. These findings provide preliminary evidence for the impact of this innovative intervention in enhancing socio-vocational skills among individuals with mild to moderate IDD. Full article

Volunteering in sports for people with disabilities is a crucial element for social inclusion and development. Therefore, this systematic review aims to analyze the existing literature on the motivation, satisfaction, engagement, and commitment of volunteers in sports for people with disabilities. Following PRISMA guidelines, a comprehensive search was conducted across four databases, the Web of Science, Scopus, PsycInfo, and SportDiscus, resulting in the inclusion of 16 studies. The geographic distribution showed the existence of studies on all continents, particularly in Europe and Asia, and most studies were quantitative. The findings revealed that volunteer motivation was predominantly intrinsic, driven by values, understanding, and personal growth, with less emphasis on extrinsic factors such as career advancement. Satisfaction levels were generally high, particularly among student volunteers, who also showed strong future intentions to continue volunteering. As a conclusion, there was a limited number of studies exclusively focused on volunteers participating in sports for people with disabilities. This review highlights the need for more research on diverse types of disabilities and the development of inclusive policies and training programs to enhance volunteer experiences. The study underscores the importance of recognizing both personal and professional motivators to effectively recruit and retain volunteers in sports organizations supporting people with disabilities. Full article