Social inclusion and people with intellectual disability and challenging behaviour: A systematic review

Abstract

Background Social inclusion is central to disability policies internationally. The high risk of social exclusion for people with intellectual disability is compounded for those with challenging behaviour.

Method A systematic literature review examined how social inclusion of people with intellectual disability and challenging behaviour has been researched and operationalised in the empirical literature, and aimed to determine what evidence exists about the extent of social inclusion by people with intellectual disability and challenging behaviour.

Results A thematic analysis of the 14 papers identified that social inclusion has been poorly defined and measured, and that the little research that has occurred in respect of people with challenging behaviour has demonstrated their potential to be socially included.

Conclusions Clearer conceptualisation of inclusion, and greater understanding of practices that support social inclusion and system level mechanisms, which ensure goals around inclusion gain prominence in funding and support plans, may address the neglect of this critical quality-of-life domain for people with challenging behaviour.

Keywords:

• challenging behaviour
• intellectual disability
• social inclusion
• participation

Acknowledgement

The author also acknowledges Paul Jacobs who provided research assistance for part of this project.

Declaration of interest: The author reports no conflicts of interest. The author alone is responsible for the content and writing of the paper.

A small amount of funding for the development of this paper was contributed by the Office of the Senior Practitioner in Victoria, Australia.