The Complex Matter of Requesting Support—Experiences of Persons with Intellectual Disability

Ann-Marie Öhrvall (), Margret Buchholz and Annika Sköld
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Ann-Marie Öhrvall: Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Division of Occupational Therapy, Karolinska Institutet, 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden
Margret Buchholz: Department of Health and Rehabilitation, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, 405 30 Gothenburg, Sweden
Annika Sköld: Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Division of Occupational Therapy, Karolinska Institutet, 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden

Disabilities, 2025, vol. 5, issue 2, 1-18

Abstract: In Sweden, persons with intellectual disability have a legal right to support in everyday life, including housing with support and participation in daily activities, but government reports show that many do not receive the support they need or would prefer. The aim of this study was to explore how persons with intellectual disability experience and reflect upon support in everyday life. Thirteen adults with mild intellectual disability participated in one to three interviews each. Content analysis yielded an overarching theme “Persons with intellectual disability request two different forms of support” and three themes: “Support requested to achieve independence”, “Challenges in requesting support”, and “Mutual support in a safe environment”. The study shows that persons with intellectual disability can be hindered in requesting and obtaining support due to both internal factors and support persons’ inability to provide support in a way that is acceptable to the person with intellectual disability. Persons with intellectual disability adapt to the support person to receive support without burdening them. Persons with intellectual disability also strive to become more independent in everyday life. Being situated in a context where mutual support is a natural part of the social life is found to be optimal.

Keywords: support; autonomy; intellectual disability; volition (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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