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“… but if you're afraid of things, how are you meant to belong?” What belonging means to people with intellectual disabilities?

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Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities

Published online on

Abstract

--- - |2+ Background A policy commitment to social inclusion has brought about some positive changes in the lives of people with intellectual disabilities; yet many also continue to experience social isolation, poverty and abuse. The authors introduce a framework for belonging from the literature and then present a study exploring the views of people with intellectual disabilities about belonging. These are discussed in relation to the framework identified from the literature. Method Three focus groups with 24 participants with intellectual disabilities were conducted in New South Wales and Victoria (Australia). The authors used inductive content analysis to identify four meanings of belonging: (i) belonging in relation to place, (ii) as being part of a community, (iii) as having relationships and (iv) as identity. Also discussed are commonly experienced barriers to belonging identified by participants. Conclusions Implications for policy, service provision and practice are discussed. - Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, Volume 31, Issue 6, Page 1091-1102, November 2018.