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Choice as an Aspect of Quality of Life for People With Intellectual Disabilities
Author(s) -
Brown Ivan,
Brown Roy I.
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
journal of policy and practice in intellectual disabilities
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.592
H-Index - 30
eISSN - 1741-1130
pISSN - 1741-1122
DOI - 10.1111/j.1741-1130.2008.00198.x
Subject(s) - conceptualization , freedom of choice , set (abstract data type) , quality (philosophy) , management science , quality of life (healthcare) , psychology , choice set , computer science , engineering ethics , epistemology , artificial intelligence , engineering , political science , economics , law , philosophy , econometrics , psychotherapist , programming language
Choice, a concept included in the quality of life approach, is frequently referred to in quality of life and related literature, but its components have not been described clearly. Drawing on conceptual considerations and research reports, the authors review and extend what is known about choice, and set out a conceptualization of its two main components: available opportunities and choice‐making. The most important characteristics of opportunities are breadth and familiarity, and the most important characteristics of choice making are freedom, initiative, and skill. The authors consider the application of choice to supports and services by discussing numerous practical issues and providing suggestions for application. These are summarized as an overall four‐step strategy for moving forward that sets the scene for more specific strategies to be developed and evaluated.