Kith and Kin and the Lived Experience of Persons with Intellectual Disabilities

This book considers the ways in which the lives of persons with intellectual disability are closely interconnected with those of the persons around them. The ways in which these interconnections work and the effects they have are examined by taking a very close look at specific instances in the lives of persons with intellectual disability, taken from published research and other sources and covering various life domains, including education, employment, creative work, socialising and family life.

The fourteen case-study chapters (covering Australia, France, Ireland, Italy, Malta, Spain, the UK, and the USA) focus on the interactions between the person with intellectual disability concerned and other persons. The analyses use Paul Ricoeur’s concept of the interrelational self to show how the lives and selves of persons with intellectual disability are intimately intertwined with those of the persons who come into contact with them. Furthermore, it is argued that what we learn about the deep connections between persons with intellectual disability and those who play a significant role in their lives can be applied to general human experience. What happens in each one-to-one interaction is of paramount importance. The analyses are based on Max Van Manen’s phenomenonological research approach and critical phenomenology. The innovative approach thus created provides fresh insights and a different method for carrying out research and analysis in the area.

The short format of the chapters in the main part of the book makes it suitable for use on a wide range of courses in disability studies as well as in other disciplines and areas of study, such as psychology, education, legal studies and childhood studies among others. It also makes it accessible for advocates and practitioners working with persons with intellectual disability.