Expectations of Personal Life Development and Decision-Making in People with Moderate Intellectual Disabilities

Abstract

People with intellectual disabilities have a need for personal and social development that is often unknown or poorly understood. The main motivation is the fact that students belong to a group usually excluded from the ordinary educational process. That process is replaced with measures that focus on caring for students rather than promoting their development. The objective of this research is to understand the expectations for personal development and decision-making of students with intellectual disabilities. To achieve the stated objective, a qualitative research based on two complementary approaches, grounded theory and case study, has been employed. The sample (n = 28) was drawn from a specific study program for the training and development of people with intellectual disabilities at the University of Murcia, called “We are all Campus”. We aim to identify the different perceptions of their reality and potential for personal development, to understand their decision-making and what motivates them. Likewise, we investigate the self-perceptions of students with intellectual disabilities have and their understanding of their future life expectations. The main conclusions show that the training program represents an opportunity for students’ progression and personal development. Thus far, the expectations of the students have remained the same, focusing on their work and social inclusion.