‘I want to participate!’ young adults with mild to moderate intellectual disabilities: How to increase participation and improve attitudes

Abstract

People with intellectual disabilities are often regarded as subjects of care and support, rather than citizens with the same rights as others. This article aims to describe how young adults experience and perceive attitudes, treatment and participation in terms of the application process for daily activity/sheltered employment, as well as their transition into this activity and their first years’ experience of it. The study was carried out in a middle-sized municipality in Sweden. Data were collected from 14 people with mild to moderate intellectual disabilities, aged between 21 and 23 years. The interviews were supported by the use of pictograms. Qualitative content analysis was used to analyse the data. The participants stated that they wished to be listened to as adults, and to participate in decisions about daily activity/sheltered employment. They wished to be treated and accepted as individuals, not according to their disabilities. They wanted to participate, and the opportunity to do so would require an accepting environment.