Social inclusion of people with ID from different cultural backgrounds.

Aim: To examine social inclusion among adults with ID and to determine the extent to which it differed depending on the de?nition and measurements used.

Method: Social inclusion was measured using the following items in the interRAI ID instrument: (a) social relationships (presence of a con?dant, recent contact with family/friends), (b) participation in social activities of interest, and (c) involvement in structured activities (work, volunteer services, day programmes). Population-level data in Ontario’s institutions (1014 people assessed in 2005) and a sample of 327 community-dwelling adults (collected between 2005 and 2007) were used.

Results: Social inclusion differed between persons living in institutional and community settings and within each group based on the conceptualization used. Further, there was great variability within and between groups based on the speci?c measures used within each conceptualization. For example, the rates differed greatly for the three measures of social relationships and the three measures of involvement in structured activities.

Conclusion: The ?ndings replicated those of other studies showing greater social inclusion among persons with ID living in community settings. The results also showed that social inclusion differed based on how the concept was de?ned, and what measurements were used to operationalize that de?nition. Findings highlight the need for a common framework for understanding and measuring social inclusion.