Background: Australian disability services must comply with quality standards defined by federal government. Standards are abstract, focus on paperwork and rarely describe what good service quality looks like in practice. This research explored frontline day service staff's perceptions of good service quality to identify ways that it may be better…

Background: Knowledge concerning the feasibility and effects of progressive resistance training (PRT) for persons with intellectual disabilities and visual impairment who are categorized in Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) Level 1 is limited. The aim of our study was to evaluate feasibility and effect of PRT on participants'…

Background: Soccer is the world's most popular sport. The present authors evaluated the effect of the Game of Life (GOL) soccer initiative on soccer skills, fitness and mobility of adults with intellectual disability (ID) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Methods: The programme is comprised of once-weekly sessions. Outcomes: soccer skills,…

Background: Little progress has been made towards community participation of people with intellectual disability despite it being a policy aim since the 1980s. We aimed to identify the features of programmes designed to support community participation. Method: A scoping review was conducted of peer-reviewed literature between 2000 and 2015, about…

Background: The review examined the effectiveness of Active Support (RQ1) and stakeholders' experiences of the model (RQ2). Method: Data were meta-analysed (RQ1; studies = 14) and synthesized narratively (RQ2; studies = 10). Results: By follow-up (6 months post-training), effect sizes (RQ1) for resident total activity engagement were significant…

Background: This paper explores the experience of staff employed within forensic disability across Victoria in an attempt to better understand service needs in this field. The complex needs of individuals with disabilities involved in the criminal justice system or presenting with offence-related behaviours suggest that there is a requirement to…

Background: The ageing of people with intellectual disabilities, involving consequences like dementia, creates a need for methods to support care staff. One promising method is Dementia Care Mapping (DCM). This study examined the effect of DCM on job satisfaction and care skills of ID-care staff. Methods: We performed a quasi-experimental study in…

Background: The cognitive and behavioural profile associated with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) includes difficulties with social interaction, communication and empathy. Each of these may present barriers to effective participation in sexual offending treatment, leading to poorer outcomes. Method: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with…

Background: A small group of transition-aged students with intellectual disabilities participated in a short-term summer work experience programme under the mentorship of a job coach. Methods: Dyadic interview technique was used to identify student and mentor participants' perceptions of student participant work motivation pre- and post-programme.…

Introduction: The United Kingdom's Department for Education's advice on behaviour focuses on the power of staff and the strength of the policy in challenging behaviour, via rules, sanctions and rewards. We designed a video-feedback intervention for staff teams in a special educational setting who were working with children with intellectual…

Background: An important mechanism that provides support and services for families with a child/youth with autism spectrum disorder is the home- and community-based services (HCBS) Waiver authorized by Section 1915(c) of the Social Security Act or Medicaid. Methods: This study used qualitative research methods to explore parent perspectives about…

Introduction: People with intellectual disability have a higher chance of developing mental disorders than the general population. Yet, few evidence-based interventions exist. This article evaluates My Lifestory, a narrative intervention tailored to people with intellectual disability and depressive or trauma-related complaints. Method: A…

Background: Positive Behavioural Support (PBS) has been shown to be effective in minimizing challenging behaviour and improving the lives of people with intellectual disabilities. Training in PBS is an important factor in achieving good coverage in the use of PBS. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of training managers of social care…

Background: "Transforming Care" is making mixed progress in supporting people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and complex needs, move to more appropriate specialist accommodations closer to home. Community support staff often spend greatest amounts of time with service-users, yet are some of the least heard voices about…

Background: Research into Rett syndrome has included various medical interventions. Non-medical interventions are relatively under-researched. Recent technological communication intervention advances have contributed to the evidence base in Rett syndrome. Method: The Embase, PsycINFO and MEDLINE were systematically searched for peer-reviewed…