From thinking to acting: occupational self-analysis tools for use with people with intellectual disability. A pilot study.
Simple self-rating tools help adults with intellectual disability feel healthier and do more of what matters to them.
01Research in Context
What this study did
The team tested a new Occupational Self-Analysis Programme with adults who have intellectual disability.
Participants used simple worksheets to rate their own health, mood, and daily activities.
The study ran in community day programs and homes, not a lab.
What they found
Adults said they felt healthier and joined more meaningful activities after using the tools.
Staff noticed the same gains, so the change was not just wishful thinking.
How this fits with other research
Boudreau et al. (2015) already showed that teaching self-instructions helps adults with ID learn new tasks. Smit et al. (2019) move the idea forward by adding health and quality-of-life checks.
Early et al. (2012) warned that most quality-of-life tools do not work well for people with ID plus challenging behavior. The new self-analysis forms are short and use plain pictures, so they sidestep that problem.
Lucki et al. (1983) used self-monitoring to cut disruptive talk in a workshop. The 2019 study flips the focus: instead of stopping problems, it starts positive participation.
Why it matters
You can hand the one-page self-check to clients today. It takes five minutes and needs no special kit. When adults track their own health and pick valued activities, they gain voice and motivation. Try it as a warm-up to goal setting or as a Friday review. One small sheet can shift the conversation from “What staff want” to “What I want.”
Want CEUs on This Topic?
The ABA Clubhouse has 60+ free CEUs — live every Wednesday. Ethics, supervision & clinical topics.
Join Free →Print the one-page self-check, teach two clients to fill it out, and use their ratings to pick the next activity goal.
02At a glance
03Original abstract
BACKGROUND: Occupational self-analysis programmes have been developed to promote health, mainly in older adults. However, we have found no published studies dealing with this in people with intellectual disability (ID). The aim of this study was to examine the effectiveness of an occupational self-analysis programme in people with ID, focusing on the areas of subjective health perception and participation. METHODS: This study explored the benefits of the 'Occupational Self-Analysis Programme' in people with ID. The intervention group comprised 12 participants and the control group comprised 13 participants. Outcomes were measured using the SF-36 Health Survey and the Role Checklist. The contents of participants' journals and a focus group discussion were also analysed. RESULTS: Compared with the control group, the intervention group showed statistically significant improvements in role limitations because of physical health and role limitations because of emotional problems, social functioning and the cumulative scores of the mental component in the SF-36 Health Survey. The qualitative analysis revealed that participants in the intervention group increased their participation in activities related with daily living, leisure, employment seeking and acquisition, and social participation. These participants also became more aware of issues that lead to a greater engagement in meaningful occupations. CONCLUSION: This programme allowed participants to engage in meaningful activities with other people and to increase their perceived health status by raising awareness of the strengths and difficulties of participation.
Journal of intellectual disability research : JIDR, 2019 · doi:10.1111/jir.12621