Anette Kjellberg

Participation when using cognitive assistive devices – from the perspective of people with intellectual disabilities

The aim of the study was to describe how people with intellectual disabilities experienced their participation in everyday activities when using cognitive assistive devices. The purpose of cognitive assistive devices is to compensate for cognitive problems, to enhance independence when performing activities and to support decision making in daily life. Nine persons, 17-37 years old, with mild intellectual disability were selected by purposive sampling. Data collection was conducted by semi-structured interviews. The results showed that participation in everyday activities increased when using cognitive assistive devices. The persons experienced having more control and health benefits using cognitive assistive devices in daily activities. There were participation restrictions related to attitudes from the social network towards participation, and attitudes towards the use of cognitive assistive devices from the persons themselves and from the social network. Occupational therapists should be aware of the social factors that may influence a clients participation in everyday activities when using cognitive assistive devices. There is a need for more research with clients with intellectual disabilities and further research concerning long-time use of cognitive assistive devices.

Participation in occupational therapy research : a literature review

Participation is a concept that is used and discussed, both within the field of occupational therapy and in other areas. The concept of participation is included in the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) and the Model of Human Occupation. The aim of this study was to investigate how the concept of participation has been used in studies published in peer-reviewed journals. A literature review was performed using the search terms ‘occupational therapy’ and ‘participation’. Papers published in peer-reviewed journals during the period 2004–2006 were included (n = 38). Content analysis was used when analysing the data. The results show that interview is the most common method of data collection and that the physical field is the clinical field that is most frequently represented in these papers. Three different categories were identified with regard to how the concept of participation has been used. These were client-centredness (n = 11), involvement in the environment (n = 19) and meaningfulness (n = 23). The three categories represent three dimensions of participation and are interpreted as occurring on micro or macro levels. Further research is needed and this review contributes to this development.

A critical analysis of the Model of Human Occupation.

The aim of this paper is to begin a dialogue regarding the use of the Model of Human Occupation (MOHO) (Kielhofner, 1995). Three questions formed the basis for discussion: 1. Is the MOHO consistent with the values and beliefs of occupational therapy?; 2. Does the MOHO support the intervention process in occupational therapy? and; 3. Is the MOHO consistent and applicable to the current regulations and societal values in Sweden? The authors propose that the MOHO must be further developed in order to support assessment and intervention in occupational therapy. Specifically, they find the MOHO lacking with regard the influence of the environment on human behaviour, appreciation of the dialectic process between the human and the environment, and of the importance of the subsystem volition in the intervention process.

Support for learning goes beyond academic support: Voices of students with Asperger’s disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

The purpose of this study was to describe and explore the experiences of support at school among young adults with Asperger’s disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and also to examine what support they, in retrospect, described as influencing learning. Purposive sampling was used to enroll participants. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 13 young adults aged between 20 and 29 years. A qualitative analysis, based on interpreting people’s experiences, was conducted by grouping and searching for patterns in data. The findings indicate that the participants experienced difficulties at school that included academic, social, and emotional conditions, all of which could influence learning. Support for learning included small groups, individualized teaching methods, teachers who cared, and practical and emotional support. These clusters together confirm the overall understanding that support for learning aligns academic and psychosocial support. In conclusion, academic support combined with psychosocial support at school seems to be crucial for learning among students with Asperger’s disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

Living in the present: Women's everyday experiences of living with rheumatoid arthritis

This article presents the findings from a qualitative research project exploring eight women’s experiences of living with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Through semistructured interviews, the women provided insights into the physical, emotional, and social impacts of RA and the “work” involved in negotiating its influence in the everyday life. In narrating their experiences of adapting to RA, the women express a common desire for “normalcy,” to return to a time and space before the disruption of RA. The women’s accounts also emphasized the interrelatedness between bodily experience and constructions of self, highlighting the corporeal nature of RA and the constant shaping and reshaping of personal meanings and values.

Ageing in people with intellectual disability as it is understood by group home staff

ABSTRACT Background The number of older residents in group homes for people with intellectual disability (ID) is increasing. This interview study was focused on how group home staff address issues of ageing and being old among people with ID. Method Twelve members of staff at 4 different group homes in Sweden were interviewed. Results Findings revealed old age as something unarticulated in the group home. Group home staff felt unprepared to meet age-related changes in residents. The study also revealed that group home staff had a one-tracked way of describing the process of ageing among people with ID, which was seemingly rooted in a medical paradigm of disability. Conclusion Based on this studys findings, we suggest that there is a need to raise issues and give guidance related to ageing and ID in disability policy documents to support the development of a formal culture that addresses old age and ID in disability services.

Staff experiences of participation in everyday life of older people with intellectual disability who live in group homes

This article aims to explore ways in which members of staff in group homes for people with intellectual disability experience participation, and what participation means for older people with intel ...

Supervision in occupational therapy regarding rehabilitation of elderly people in Sweden

The aim of this study was to investigate occupational therapists’ supervision of healthcare workers regarding rehabilitation of elderly people in Swedish municipal elderly care. Data were collected through a self-report questionnaire developed for this study. In total, 238 occupational therapists working with supervision of healthcare workers in the field of municipal elderly care participated in the study. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics. For supervising healthcare workers, the participants rated highly the importance of cooperation and communication. Many of the participants considered both the time available for one supervision session and the number of supervision sessions to be insufficient. The result also demonstrated that the participants supervised healthcare workers more frequently in P-ADL than in I-ADL. A majority of the participants supervised other groups of people in addition to healthcare workers. The lack of research work in supervision specific to occupational therapy indicates a need for more studies in this area.

Internet Activities During Leisure A Comparison Between Adolescents With ADHD and Adolescents From the General Population

Objective: Adolescents’ leisure activities are increasingly focusing on Internet activities, and today, these coexist with traditional leisure activities such as sport and meeting friends. The purpose of the present study was to investigate leisure activities, particularly Internet activities, among boys and girls with ADHD, and compare these with boys and girls from the general population. The objective was also to explore how traditional leisure activities and Internet activities interrelate among adolescents with ADHD. Method: Adolescents with ADHD (n = 102) were compared with adolescents from the general population on leisure activities and Internet use. Results: Leisure activities among adolescents with ADHD tended to focus on Internet activities, particularly online games. Internet activities were broadening leisure activities among adolescents with ADHD, rather than being a substitute for traditional leisure activities. Conclusion: Internet activities may provide adolescents with ADHD accessible means of social interaction.

Choice and control for people ageing with intellectual disability in group homes

Abstract Background Many people ageing with intellectual disabilities (ID) age in place in group homes. Participation is a central concept in support and service to people with ID, but age is often a determining factor for participation among this group. Choice and control are dimensions of participation. Aim The aim of this article is to explore how choice and control in the everyday life of people ageing with ID is expressed and performed in the group home’s semi-private spaces. Material and methods Participant observations and interviews with residents and staff were conducted in four different group homes in Sweden that had older residents. Results Four categories were found that can be understood as aspects of choice and control in the group home’s semi-private spaces in the everyday life of people ageing with ID. These categories included aspects such as space and object, time and routines, privacy, and a person-centred approach. Conclusion and significance People ageing with ID are vulnerable when it comes to maintaining choice and control in various situations in the home’s semi-private spaces. It is argued that occupational therapists should include this occupational arena in their evaluations and interventions for people ageing with ID.