Debunking Choice and Control in Active Support: A Qualitative Analysis of Encounters in Training Videos between Staff and People with Intellectual Disability

Abstract

The online learning resource ‘Every Moment has Potential’ (2015) aimed to teach direct support professionals about the values underlying active support, especially choice and control. This is unsurprising: these values anchor disability rights activism and policies. However, accompanying videos meant to illustrate choice and control offer a more nuanced story. My qualitative analysis brings in Lori Marso’s concept of freedom in the encounter to theorize four kinds of encounters in active support relationships: encounters that treat people as people; encounters that encourage surprise and spontaneity; encounters of mutual and safe touch; and challenging encounters. I aim to question critically the explicit values alongside the practices of active support. Plus, by using online YouTube videos as analysis, I hope to encourage more creative ways to include people with severe and profound intellectual disabilities in academic work, especially theoretical and philosophical work about intellectual disability.