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Social and health-related policy priorities of adults with intellectual disability in South Africa
Background: People with intellectual disability are rarely consulted on what should be prioritised in public policy to improve their quality of life. It is also well documented in the literature that people with intellectual disability experience barriers when accessing social and health services. T...
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| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | Eng |
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Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health
2024
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| _version_ | 1867613210678394880 |
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| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author | Zihlazi, Siphesihle |
| author2 | Kleintjes, Sharon |
| author_browse | Kleintjes, Sharon Zihlazi, Siphesihle |
| author_facet | Kleintjes, Sharon Zihlazi, Siphesihle |
| author_sort | Zihlazi, Siphesihle |
| collection | Thesis |
| description | Background: People with intellectual disability are rarely consulted on what should be prioritised in public policy to improve their quality of life. It is also well documented in the literature that people with intellectual disability experience barriers when accessing social and health services. The aim of the study is to gain an understanding of policy priorities from the perspective of people with intellectual disabilities. Method: The study is qualitative in nature, with data collected through a scoping review from 1994 to 2021 on policy priorities for people with intellectual disability, and semi-structured interviews on the views of South African adults with intellectual disability on their policy priorities. The study participants comprised a sample of six participants with intellectual disability, aged 18 years and older, who were recruited through a non-profit organisation that offers a range of services for people with psychosocial and/or intellectual disability and their families; ranging from counselling and support, special education and care centres for children and adults, as well as training and employment opportunities for those who are able to work. Results: Policy priorities identified in this study include the need for support in education and skills training, adequate healthcare access, work opportunities, inclusive housing, and supportive relationships. Conclusion: It is evident from the findings of this study that people with intellectual disability are still largely excluded from policy participation. Public policy makers and implementers should consider reasonable accommodations to enhance involvement of people with intellectual disability in discussions and decisions about policy and practice which impact on their lives. Research documenting the voices of people with intellectual disability can also assist to inform policy development and needs to include adaptations to data collection methods to optimise participants opportunities to share their views on what they need. Study implications: This study highlights the importance of reasonable accommodations for people with intellectual disability to inform policy developments, and the need to eliminate barriers encountered by people with intellectual disability when accessing social, health and other public services. Keywords: Intellectual disability, self-advocacy, lived-experiences, health policy, social policy |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/39935 |
| institution | University of Cape Town (South Africa) |
| language | Eng |
| last_indexed | 2026-06-10T12:32:31.718Z |
| license_str | Not specified — see source repository |
| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from UCTD — University of Cape Town Open Access Repository |
| publishDate | 2024 |
| publishDateRange | 2024 |
| publishDateSort | 2024 |
| publisher | Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health |
| publisherStr | Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health |
| record_format | dspace |
| source_str | UCTD — University of Cape Town Open Access Repository |
| spelling | oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/39935 Social and health-related policy priorities of adults with intellectual disability in South Africa Zihlazi, Siphesihle Kleintjes, Sharon Psychiatry and Mental Health Background: People with intellectual disability are rarely consulted on what should be prioritised in public policy to improve their quality of life. It is also well documented in the literature that people with intellectual disability experience barriers when accessing social and health services. The aim of the study is to gain an understanding of policy priorities from the perspective of people with intellectual disabilities. Method: The study is qualitative in nature, with data collected through a scoping review from 1994 to 2021 on policy priorities for people with intellectual disability, and semi-structured interviews on the views of South African adults with intellectual disability on their policy priorities. The study participants comprised a sample of six participants with intellectual disability, aged 18 years and older, who were recruited through a non-profit organisation that offers a range of services for people with psychosocial and/or intellectual disability and their families; ranging from counselling and support, special education and care centres for children and adults, as well as training and employment opportunities for those who are able to work. Results: Policy priorities identified in this study include the need for support in education and skills training, adequate healthcare access, work opportunities, inclusive housing, and supportive relationships. Conclusion: It is evident from the findings of this study that people with intellectual disability are still largely excluded from policy participation. Public policy makers and implementers should consider reasonable accommodations to enhance involvement of people with intellectual disability in discussions and decisions about policy and practice which impact on their lives. Research documenting the voices of people with intellectual disability can also assist to inform policy development and needs to include adaptations to data collection methods to optimise participants opportunities to share their views on what they need. Study implications: This study highlights the importance of reasonable accommodations for people with intellectual disability to inform policy developments, and the need to eliminate barriers encountered by people with intellectual disability when accessing social, health and other public services. Keywords: Intellectual disability, self-advocacy, lived-experiences, health policy, social policy 2024-06-19T07:46:40Z 2024-06-19T07:46:40Z 2023 2024-06-06T13:48:40Z Thesis / Dissertation Masters MPhil http://hdl.handle.net/11427/39935 Eng application/pdf Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health Faculty of Health Sciences |
| spellingShingle | Psychiatry and Mental Health Zihlazi, Siphesihle Social and health-related policy priorities of adults with intellectual disability in South Africa |
| thesis_degree_str | Master's |
| title | Social and health-related policy priorities of adults with intellectual disability in South Africa |
| title_full | Social and health-related policy priorities of adults with intellectual disability in South Africa |
| title_fullStr | Social and health-related policy priorities of adults with intellectual disability in South Africa |
| title_full_unstemmed | Social and health-related policy priorities of adults with intellectual disability in South Africa |
| title_short | Social and health-related policy priorities of adults with intellectual disability in South Africa |
| title_sort | social and health related policy priorities of adults with intellectual disability in south africa |
| topic | Psychiatry and Mental Health |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/11427/39935 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT zihlazisiphesihle socialandhealthrelatedpolicyprioritiesofadultswithintellectualdisabilityinsouthafrica |