ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The present study was aimed at investigating the selection of landmarks by individuals with intellectual disability (ID). The hypothesis was that they would be less efficient than individuals without IDs in the selection of landmarks when learning a new route. METHODS: The experiment took place in a natural setting with a group of participants with ID and a group of control participants matched by chronological age. The participants were first guided along a route situated in an unfamiliar district. Then, they had to guide the experimenter along the route while pointing to all the objects and features they found useful for wayfinding. RESULTS: The designated objects were categorised as a function of their landmarks properties. There were significant differences between the two groups for non-permanent landmarks, distant landmarks and non-unique landmarks. The two groups selected landmarks near intersections in the same proportions. However, the individuals with ID selected more non-unique landmarks and less textual signage than the control group at these decision points. CONCLUSION: Individuals with ID seem to be less efficient than individuals without disability in landmark selection. This may limit their wayfinding abilities in their day-to-day travelling. This may also account for their difficulties in obtaining the kind of spatial knowledge which relates to the configural structure of their environment.
Subject(s)
Discrimination Learning , Intellectual Disability/psychology , Recognition, Psychology , Spatial Behavior , Adolescent , Case-Control Studies , Choice Behavior , Disabled Persons , Female , Humans , Intellectual Disability/physiopathology , Male , Matched-Pair Analysis , Space Perception , Young AdultABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between self-determination and quality of life (QOL) of persons with intellectual disabilities (ID) living in four countries (Canada, United States, Belgium and France). METHOD: Participants were 182 adults with mild ID living in community settings (with families, living independently or in supported living environments). QOL was measured with the Quality of Life Questionnaire. Self-determination was measured using the Adult version of The Arc's Self-Determination Scale. Discriminant function and correlational analyses were conducted. RESULTS: Discriminant function analysis indicated that essential characteristics of self-determination predicted membership in the high QOL group and that overall self-determination and QOL were significantly correlated, as were sub-scale scores. CONCLUSIONS: The study replicates findings from a previous study with an international sample and confirms the importance of self-determination to enhance QOL. Subsequent research should examine the direction of the relationship between self-determination and QOL and examine the relationship of essential characteristics of self-determined behaviour and core domains of QOL in greater detail.
Subject(s)
Intellectual Disability/psychology , International Cooperation , Personal Autonomy , Quality of Life/psychology , Adult , Female , Humans , Male , Surveys and QuestionnairesABSTRACT
Performance on four mental imagery tasks by two groups of adolescents with mental retardation with different etiologies (sociocultural, organic) were compared to that of children without mental retardation who were of comparable or lower MAs. Findings reveal an important deficit in imagery abilities in both retarded groups; their performance was poorer compared to the children without mental retardation matched on MA. Subjects with mental retardation due to sociocultural retardation scored higher on some tasks than did those whose mental retardation was due to organic causes. This finding underscores the need to consider etiology. This marked deficit in imagery ability in persons with mental retardation may be the source of other difficulties they encounter in cognitive activities that involve this representational format.
