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- Bahner, Julia, et al.
(author)
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Who Counts as a Sexual Subject? The Impact of Ableist Rhetoric for People with Intellectual Disability in Sweden
- 2024
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In: Sexuality Research and Social Policy. - 1868-9884 .- 1553-6610. ; 21:1, s. 161-176
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Introduction: The ableist rhetoric around sexuality in disability services and beyond can hinder subjective sexual expression and have a powerful impact on health, self-esteem, and everyday life through internalized ableism, structural marginalization, and interpersonal discrimination. The aim of this study was to explore the ableist rhetoric of sexuality and its impact on sexual scripting for people with intellectual disability. Methods: A thematic analysis was carried out on data generated through ethnographic fieldwork at five sheltered accommodations and semi-structured interviews with ten individuals with intellectual disability. Results: The results show that people in Sweden with intellectual disability are desexualized within a moral order that is maintained in post-institutional social care. Through this moral order, which is deeply embedded in an ableist rhetoric about sexual relationships, sexual scripting for disabled people is constrained both inside post-institutional social care initiatives, and in the broader community of “ableist environments.” In response, disabled people employ various strategies of resistance. Conclusions: A rhetoric of positive sexuality should be a guiding principle for successfully supporting the development of sexual agency on each individual’s own term. Policy Implications: We conclude by encouraging the development of initiatives that will empower and support people with intellectual disability to learn about their sexual rights and to find solutions that allow for development of sexual agency and subjectivity.
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2. |
- Dag, Munir, et al.
(author)
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Experiences of using Bestic, an eating aid for people with intellectual disabilities
- 2017
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In: Journal of Intellectual Disability. - : SAGE Publications. - 1744-6295 .- 1744-6309. ; 21:1, s. 87-98
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- This article reports on the results of a pilot study exploring whether and how the meal situations of persons with intellectual disabilities (PWIDs) in need of help and support during meal situations were affected by an eating aid. This article also analyzes how PWIDs and their assistants perceived their experiences of using an eating aid during meal situations. Data for the study were collected in interviews with PWIDs and their assistants. The results are presented in five themes: independence in the meal situation, motivation to use the eating aid, functions of the eating aid, social aspects of using the eating aid, and design corresponding to intellectual disability. The eating aid’s function, user-friendliness, and the assistants’ attitudes appear to be crucial for using the eating aid. Another important aspect is the introductory and training phase, which must be fundamentally adapted to suit the PWIDs ability to learn and understand. When these aspects are controlled, the eating aid can be a tool for increased independence during meal situations for PWIDs who are unable to move their arms or hands.
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3. |
- Svanelöv, Eric
(author)
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An observation study of power practices and participation in group homes for people with intellectual disability
- 2020
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In: Disability & Society. - : Informa UK Limited. - 0968-7599 .- 1360-0508. ; 35:9, s. 1419-1440
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- This study explored how participation constitutes and is constituted by practices of power in group homes for people with intellectual disability. The study used disciplinary power as theoretical perspective and was based on 50 h of observation in two group homes with a total of 15 residents. The analysis identifies practices of power and their relationship to individual agency and participation. The results show that institutional structures construct practices of power that define codes of conduct for the group home residents and their possibility for participation. This study offers implications for the daily lives of residents in group homes for people with intellectual disability.
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5. |
- Svanelöv, Eric
(author)
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Being who one wants : constructing participation within discourses of (dis)ability
- 2021
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Doctoral thesis (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Background: Society is full of norms categorising and labelling people on the basis of abilities, traits, and appearance. People who deviate from normative ideals are subjected to practices of able-mindedness that can stigmatise and marginalise norm-breaking functionality and invoke intellectual disability labels. People on the margins of (dis)ability are often excluded from societal domains such as the labour market and sports and may need help and support in their daily living, which can limit opportunities for participation. As an effort to prevent exclusion for people with intellectual disability labels, specific dis-locations were created; that is, daily activity services, group homes and disability sports.Aim: The overall aim of the dissertation was to explore and discuss how and for whom participation was constructed in relation to practices of able-mindedness and position in (dis)ability.Method: The empirical data for the dissertation consists of four studies. Study I used qualitative semi-structured interviews to explore the experiences of people’s participation in daily activity services; the interviews were analysed with qualitative content analysis. Study II employed the observer-as-participant role to obtain observations, with analysis focusing on the discursive patterns in how power affects conditions for participation among residents in group homes. Study III used qualitative open-ended interviews that were analysed with thematic analysis to explore the experiences of participation among athletes in disability sports. Finally, study IV used semi-structured/open-ended interviews that were analysed with discourse analysis to explore how staff in social support services directed to people with intellectual disability and leaders in disability sports talk about participation.Results: The results show that practices of able-mindedness create codes of conduct and contextual limitations to the construction of participation. People with intellectual disability labels are positioned on the margins and in dis-locations; however, the normatively deviant margin can also be the centre. Participation is encouraged and indeed an overarching aim of social support services and disability sports but only within those dis-locations.Conclusion: Able-mindedness affects one’s right to participation and position in the societal hierarchy. Locations created for people with intellectual disability labels have good outcomes but are also ableist. The dissertation presents a base of knowledge for constructions of participation in central life contexts for people with intellectual disability labels and ideas of how able-mindedness influence participation. The results are vital for social work practices’ assessment of support services, how to work with participation and in challenging preconceptions about intellectual disability.
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6. |
- Svanelöv, Eric, et al.
(author)
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‘Everybody with Disability Should be Included’ : A Qualitative Interview Study of Athletes’ Experiences of Disability Sports Participation Analysed with Ideas of Able-Mindedness
- 2020
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In: Scandinavian Journal of Disability Research. - : Stockholm University Press. - 1501-7419 .- 1745-3011. ; 22:1, s. 296-306
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Inspired by ideas of able-mindedness, this study explored athletes’ experiences of participation in disability sports. The athletes included were active members in sports clubs targeting people with intellectual disability. The study focused on their perspectives on and understanding of participation, as well as on their accounts of positioning and self-identification, in disability sports. In all, 17 athletes were interviewed. Using thematic analysis, three themes were singled out: identity construction and positioning, the (dis)able-minded athlete and facilitation of participation through others. The results show that participation influences identity construction and is a basis for a common athletic identity. This study offers important knowledge for the facilitation of participation and for the elucidation of able-mindedness in disability sports.
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7. |
- Svanelöv, Eric, 1988-, et al.
(author)
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Funktionshinderidrott ett tveeggat svärd - men de positiva upplevelserna väger över
- 2020
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In: Idrottsforskning.se. - Stockholm : Centrum för Idrottsforskning. - 2002-3944. ; :8 Aug
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Journal article (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Funktionshinderidrotten är ett tveeggat svärd - den kan både stärka deltagarnas identiteter och sociala relationer, men även upplevas vara exkluderande och marginaliserande från annan idrott. Men i slutändan väger det positiva över, menar deltagarna själva.
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8. |
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9. |
- Svanelöv, Eric, et al.
(author)
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It is supposed to be a home : Barriers to everyday life decisions in group homes
- 2021
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In: Accessibility Denied. Understanding Inaccessibility and Everyday Resistance to Inclusion for Persons with Disabilities. - London : Routledge. - 9781003120452
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Book chapter (other academic/artistic)abstract
- In a group home with several apartments along a corridor we noticed that atmidday many of the residents’ doors were open, meaning that everybody whowalks along the corridor of the group home could see into the apartments and see what the resident did. We noticed that there are many scheduled supportservices during this time and asked the staff members why the doors are open.It is because it is easier to provide support
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10. |
- Svanelöv, Eric, et al.
(author)
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Understandings of participation in daily activity services among people with intellectual disabilities : a pedagogical sociocultural perspective
- 2019
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In: Journal of Intellectual Disabilities. - : Sage Publications. - 1744-6295 .- 1744-6309. ; 23:2, s. 203-215
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- This study sought to explore different understandings of participation in daily activity services among people with intellectual disabilities. Using a pedagogical sociocultural perspective, the research focused on individuals' perspectives and understandings as well as their account of social interaction, working and learning. In all, 17 people working in daily activity services were interviewed once, and, of these, 14 were interviewed a second time. Using qualitative content analysis, two themes and three categories were singled out. The results show that participation can be understood in two major ways: social interaction and performing work tasks.
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