‘I walk from trouble’: exploring safeguards with adults with intellectual disabilities – an Australian qualitative study

Abstract

People living with intellectual disabilities have a right to be safe from abuse and neglect and have a right to be included in the decision-making process determining safeguards that will affect them. However, the research evidence that could underpin good professional practice in terms of co-producing safeguards against abuse and neglect directly involving people with intellectual disabilities is largely missing. This article, based on qualitative research involving semi-structured interviews conducted during the first half of 2014, seeks to strengthen this evidence base. It reports on the prevention strategies identified by 12 adults with intellectual disabilities about how to stay safe and compares these with the findings of similar research. The article suggests that a comprehensive safeguarding approach comprises both life course-focused safety training and access to assisted decision-making. The article argues that given the plethora of risk situations encountered by people living with intellectual disability, assisted decision-making should take the form of a co-creation process that is situation specific and grounded in everyday life.

Keywords:

• Intellectual disability
• learning disability
• safeguarding
• protection
• abuse
• decision-making
• autonomy

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to express their gratitude to the participants who freely shared their time and life stories. Their contributions to this project were invaluable.