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Adults with Intellectual Disability: Choice and Control in the Context of Family

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Choice, Preference, and Disability

Part of the book series: Positive Psychology and Disability Series ((POPD))

Abstract

This chapter about the experience of choice and control by adults with intellectual disability in the family context is offered against the background of the tripartite ecological theory of self-determination (Abery and Stancliffe, A tripartite-ecological theory of self-determination. In Wehmeyer et al. (Eds.), Theory in self-determination: Foundations for educational practice (pp. 43–78). Springfield, IL: Charles C. Thomas, 2003). The challenges in determining readiness for adult decision-making are discussed, as are the experiences of adults with intellectual disability when exercising choice and control within the family context. How families, including parents and siblings, influence decision-making by their family member with intellectual disability is summarized. The critical role of the family in supporting independent choice-making is also highlighted. The chapter ends with a call for research about skills and resources for families to become effective, knowledgeable, and confident supporters of their member with intellectual disability in the quest for adult self-determination.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Disability Research and Policy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia

    Bernadette Curryer

  2. Disability and Inclusion, School of Health and Social Development, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia

    Angela Dew

  3. Centre for Disability Research and Policy, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia

    Roger J. Stancliffe

  4. School of Social Sciences and Psychology, Western Sydney University, Sydney, NSW, Australia

    Michele Y. Wiese

Authors
  1. Bernadette Curryer
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  2. Angela Dew
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  3. Roger J. Stancliffe
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  4. Michele Y. Wiese
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Bernadette Curryer .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Disability Research and Policy, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia

    Roger J. Stancliffe

  2. Beach Center on Disability, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, USA

    Michael L. Wehmeyer

  3. Kansas University Center on Developmental Disabilities, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, USA

    Karrie A. Shogren

  4. Institute on Community Integration, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA

    Brian H. Abery

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Curryer, B., Dew, A., Stancliffe, R.J., Wiese, M.Y. (2020). Adults with Intellectual Disability: Choice and Control in the Context of Family. In: Stancliffe, R.J., Wehmeyer, M.L., Shogren, K.A., Abery, B.H. (eds) Choice, Preference, and Disability. Positive Psychology and Disability Series. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-35683-5_15

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