A storied life : learning from the voices of youth with developmental disabilities
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Issue Date
2020-04-21
Editor
Authors
Sparling, Elizabeth
License
Subject
Capabilities Approach
developmental disabilities
disability
identity making
narrative inquiry
transition planning
developmental disabilities
disability
identity making
narrative inquiry
transition planning
Abstract
Youth in transition in the province of British Columbia are individuals aged 14-25 who have IQs below 70. Within the province, youth in transition, or individuals with developmental disabilities, are disadvantaged by the long-standing use of the medical/deficit model. Social injustice is perpetuated by provincial institutions whose policies use a medical/deficit model of assessment and goal setting, such as the school system and adult services under Community Living British Columbia. While there is a desire for change within the province, there has been no model proposed for use. This dissertation used mixed methods, focusing on narrative inquiry and thematic analysis of transcripts. Multiple, in-depth interviews were conducted over a year and a half with ten youth in transition and their families, to assess the Nussbaum Capabilities Approach to Human Development (CAN) as a replacement paradigm to the medical/deficit model. This research demonstrated the following outcomes: 1) the narratives of youth with developmental disabilities constitute knowledge; 2) this knowledge can be used to inform the need for change within our society; 3) experiences of youth with developmental disabilities are impacted by use of a medical/deficit model; 4) CAN reflects the identity that youth in transition create for themselves; and 5) CAN is an appropriate replacement model for use with youth in transition to goal set.