Revija za sociologiju, Vol. 55 No. 1, 2025.
Izvorni znanstveni članak
https://doi.org/10.5613/rzs.55.1.2
A Look at the Past and Future of People with Intellectual Disabilities Through the Life Course Perspective
Petar Šajfar
orcid.org/0000-0003-0301-5980
; Pravni fakultet Osijek, Hrvatska
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* Dopisni autor.
Sažetak
Compared with the general population, persons with intellectual disabilities often experience substantially different life trajectories; therefore, the life-course perspective was employed as the theoretical framework for this study. The aim was to examine the life course of individuals with intellectual disabilities who have lived in their families of origin, subsequently in institutional care, and who later underwent the process of deinstitutionalisation. A qualitative ethnographic approach was applied, complemented by semi-structured interviews and participant observation. In total, 27 persons with intellectual disabilities participated in the study. The findings indicate that, although
positive life events were occasionally reported, participants’ life histories were predominantly marked by adverse experiences such as the death of family members, illness, and violence. At the same time, participants emphasised that family life, work engagement, and schooling represented meaningful dimensions of their past life course, with the first two being strongly desired domains for the future. These results are
discussed in relation to existing empirical and theoretical insights. The study highlights the importance of more detailed exploration of life histories within everyday professional practice involving persons with intellectual disabilities, as well as the need to recognise and incorporate individuals’ prior life experiences—for example through traumainformed
care. Furthermore, the findings underscore the importance of continued efforts in deinstitutionalisation processes to ensure that community-based supports enable the fulfilment of preferred life trajectories.
Ključne riječi
people with intellectual disabilities; life course perspective; deinstitutionalisation; qualitative methodology; ethnography
Hrčak ID:
341549
URI
Datum izdavanja:
30.4.2025.
Posjeta: 762 *