Impact of environmental factors on community participation of persons with an intellectual disability: a systematic review.
Transport and social acceptance are the biggest environmental barriers to community participation for adults with ID—address these first in service planning.
01Research in Context
What this study did
The team looked at every paper they could find on why adults with intellectual disability do or do not join community life.
They pulled out the real-world roadblocks and helpers, not therapy tricks.
No lab work—just a big map of what outside the person matters most.
What they found
Two things kill participation fastest: no ride and no welcome.
Small homes, real choices, friendly staff, and family backing all lift participation.
Fix the setting first; skills grow later.
How this fits with other research
Vassos et al. (2016) tested Person-Centred Planning and saw small gains in going out. Their work adds an action step to the 2009 list—once you spot the barriers, run PCP to chip at them.
Gabriels et al. (2001) moved people from big wards to community houses and saw self-determination jump. The 2009 review widens that single study into a full checklist of what needs to change.
Rieth et al. (2022) found that adults with fewer daily choices get behavior meds more often. It lines up with the 2009 point: choice is not a luxury; it shapes every outcome.
Why it matters
Before you write goals, audit the ride plan and community mood. If the bus line stops at 6 PM or the corner store greets the person with stares, no amount of role play will fix it. Pair your skill programs with real-world fixes: travel training, staff charm school, and family ally talks. Participation will climb faster than drilling social scripts alone.
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Join Free →Add a transit checklist to the plan: Does the person have a bus pass, know the route, and feel safe? If not, start travel training this week.
02At a glance
03Original abstract
STUDY DESIGN: A systematic review of the literature. OBJECTIVES: To describe which environmental factors have an impact on community participation of persons with an intellectual disability. METHODS: A systematic literature search was conducted for the period of 1996-2006 in Pubmed, CINAHL and PSYCINFO. Search terms were derived from the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health. Three investigators assessed the relevance of the studies identified using predefined selection criteria. Aspects of community participation included were: domestic life; interpersonal interactions and relationships; major life areas; community, civic and social life. Environmental factors included were: products and technology; natural environment and human-made changes to environment; support and relationships; attitudes; services, systems and policies. RESULTS: Out of 236 initial hits, 9 quantitative studies and 2 qualitative studies met the predefined selection criteria and were included in the study. Various research instruments were used in the studies and only one study used a conceptual framework. The review allowed the identification of a number of environmental factors positively affecting participation: opportunities to make choices; variety and stimulation of the environment of facilities; opportunities for resident involvement in policy making; small residential facilities; opportunities for autonomy; vocational services; social support; family involvement; assistive technology; and positive staff attitudes. A number of identified environmental factors negatively affecting participation are: lack of transport and not feeling accepted. DISCUSSION: It can be concluded that little has been published about the impact of environmental factors on community participation. Many studies do not clearly define the concept of community participation. Research on the impact of environmental factors on community participation so far seems not to be based on a theoretical framework. Most studies focused on the impact of services on community participation in general.
Journal of intellectual disability research : JIDR, 2009 · doi:10.1111/j.1365-2788.2008.01128.x