Strengthening relations between people with mild intellectual disabilities and challenging behaviour, their informal network and health professionals

What is the best way to help people with mild intellectual disabilities and challenging behaviour work together more closely with their informal network (friends, family, volunteers) and health professionals? These relationships are important for the quality of life of people with mild intellectual disabilities and challenging behaviour, and help ensure the continuity of good quality care that is accessible and affordable. In the case of people with mild intellectual disabilities and challenging behaviour, however, it is not easy to build strong relationships. For this doctoral research project we first review what the scientific literature can tell us about the relationships of people with mild intellectual disabilities and challenging behaviour, their informal network and health professionals. Next we examine who makes up the informal networks of people with mild intellectual disabilities and challenging behaviour, what helps them work more closely together and what gets in the way. We are looking at this from different perspectives. We will be developing a method based on the results aimed at strengthening the ability to work together.