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Changing Selves: a Grounded Theory Account of Belonging to a Self‐advocacy Group for People with Intellectual Disabilities

Changing Selves: a Grounded Theory Account of Belonging to a Self‐advocacy Group for People with... Purpose To explore the experience of belonging to a self‐advocacy group for people with intellectual disabilities, and how membership of such a group impacts on individual members. Methods Eight people with intellectual disabilities, who belonged to a self‐advocacy group for at least 6 months, were interviewed about their experiences of membership. A grounded theory approach was used to generate and analyse the interview data. Results A model of the impact of belonging to a self‐advocacy group for people with intellectual disabilities on individual members' self‐concept is developed. The model proposes that participants' self‐concept changes as a result of group membership and that this process of change involves six key categories: joining the group; learning about and doing self‐advocacy; becoming aware of group aims and identity; experiencing a positive social environment; identifying positive change in self‐concept and seeing the future of self and group as interlinked. Conclusion Membership of a self‐advocacy group for people with intellectual disabilities changes the self‐concept of participants. The processes surrounding these changes have important implications for self‐advocacy groups both, in recruitment and in supporting group members. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities Wiley

Changing Selves: a Grounded Theory Account of Belonging to a Self‐advocacy Group for People with Intellectual Disabilities

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References (10)

Publisher
Wiley
Copyright
Copyright © 2004 Wiley Subscription Services, Inc., A Wiley Company
ISSN
1360-2322
eISSN
1468-3148
DOI
10.1111/j.1360-2322.2004.00186.x
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

Purpose To explore the experience of belonging to a self‐advocacy group for people with intellectual disabilities, and how membership of such a group impacts on individual members. Methods Eight people with intellectual disabilities, who belonged to a self‐advocacy group for at least 6 months, were interviewed about their experiences of membership. A grounded theory approach was used to generate and analyse the interview data. Results A model of the impact of belonging to a self‐advocacy group for people with intellectual disabilities on individual members' self‐concept is developed. The model proposes that participants' self‐concept changes as a result of group membership and that this process of change involves six key categories: joining the group; learning about and doing self‐advocacy; becoming aware of group aims and identity; experiencing a positive social environment; identifying positive change in self‐concept and seeing the future of self and group as interlinked. Conclusion Membership of a self‐advocacy group for people with intellectual disabilities changes the self‐concept of participants. The processes surrounding these changes have important implications for self‐advocacy groups both, in recruitment and in supporting group members.

Journal

Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities – Wiley

Published: Jun 1, 2004

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