Self-advocacy and resistance in Sweden

• Aims: Later years young adults with intellectual disability (ID) voluntary organize themselves to increase the power over their own lives and at the same time to influence the society in the direction for increased participation. The aim of this study is to increase the knowledge about the new self-organized activities in Sweden by describing and analyzing 1) the meaning for the members and the influence for identifications, self-determination, relations and daily life 2) the character and organization of the movement and its activities and 3) how the organization has influenced the environments attitudes and treatment. Method: After a national mapping, a strategic sample of 6 organizations, based on different relations to the disability movement, will be observed by using interviews, focus-groups, observations and documentation. Results: Those self-organized activities can be understood in terms of resistance against the society’s views and treatment of people with ID and against traditional ways to offer and organize support and service. Conclusions: The self-organized movements indicate an important change in society and the study is expected to give results that are of importance for the target group and for shaping future support and treatment.

Subject headings

SAMHÄLLSVETENSKAP  -- Annan samhällsvetenskap -- Tvärvetenskapliga studier inom samhällsvetenskap (hsv//swe)

SOCIAL SCIENCES  -- Other Social Sciences -- Social Sciences Interdisciplinary (hsv//eng)

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)