Deinstitutionalization

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In recent years, alternatives in living environments have emerged for people with developmental disabilities. These alternatives have formed mainly due to the deinstitutionalization of people with developmental disabilities. Deinstitutionalization, meaning the transfer of individuals with developmental disabilities from institutions (congregate living environments) to community-based living arrangements. The subject of deinstitutionalization has been researched for many reasons. The quality of institutions has played a large role in deinstitutionalization. In some institutions people with developmental disabilities live in poor, restrictive conditions. These poor, restrictive conditions have made more national attention in recent years. Research …show more content…

My interest is in the autonomous functioning of people with developmental disabilities living in different environments and its correlation to community integration. Autonomous functioning, ultimately their self-determination; allows social workers to provide effective services to people with developmental disabilities. If self-determination increases with deinstitutionalization, changes in services provided to people with developmentally disabilities should be discussed and evaluated. Therefore, self-determination is necessary in finding effective services for people with developmental disabilities, especially those trying to achieve community integration. Research on deinstitutionalization has become prevalent in recent years. In order for deinstitutionalization to be successful, it must focus on individuals and their needs (Racino, 2002). In order to achieve community integration, many changes are …show more content…

Also, this study aimed to find what the components of the quality of life are for people with developmental disabilities who lived in more restrictive environments and then moved to less restrictive environments. The result of this research study was that there were five different components for personal competence and community integration for people with developmental disabilities in small residential programs. Ultimately, this research study explained that through this research and other research on components of personal competence and community integration we can learn how to teach better life skills and allow more opportunities for people with developmental disabilities, so they can have a better quality of life. (Bruininks, R. H., Chen, T. H., & Lakin, C. K.,

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