Involvement and participation of people with intellectual disabilities in their social services in times of crisis

The COVID-19 pandemic has had significant effects on society, especially for marginalized groups such as individuals with intellectual disabilities (ID).

Our FORTE-funded project, “Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities and Their Satisfaction, Involvement, and Participation with Their Social Services During the COVID-19 Pandemic 2020/2021,” began in 2022 and highlights major changes in the daily lives of individuals with ID during the pandemic.

These changes include visitation bans, isolation, and difficulties using digital solutions.

The main finding is the lack of participation and involvement experienced by individuals with ID, even in their own homes.The project’s aim is to develop and implement methods to involve individuals with ID during future crises and enable their participation in decision-making.

This is done in collaboration with individuals with ID,with the board of FUB’s Inre Ringen Sverige in line with inclusive research design.We have identified a lack of platforms to disseminate research results tailored for individuals with ID and to enable implementation and inclusion of stakeholders important to people with ID.

The project plans four activities over two years to disseminate and implement the results: A) Create films to illustrate the research findings. B) Conduct a stakeholder analysis to identify the film’s audience. C) Develop educational materials for the film.

D) Organize a launch event for the film and materials.Throughout the process, we work co-creatively with the target group to address the challenge identified by us and the National Board of Health and Welfare, regarding the lack of participation among individuals with ID both before and during crises.