The impact of the quality of behaviour support plans on the use of restraint and seclusion in disability services

Background: Behaviour support plan (BSP) quality is known to be an important aspect of the support provided to people with disability who show challenging behaviours and has been found to lead to reductions in challenging behaviour. Preliminary evidence suggests that quality of plans is associated with reductions in the use of restraint
and seclusion.
Method and materials: Quality of a sample of behaviour support plans was assessed using the Behaviour Support Plan – Quality Evaluation II (BSP-QE II) Guide (Browning Wright, Saren & Mayer, 2003). Episodes of restraint and seclusion before and during implementation of plans were examined by comparing restraint and seclusion use between individuals with high quality versus low quality plans.
Results: Compared to individuals with low quality plans, individuals with high quality plans were found to be subjected to less restraint and seclusion over time, while those with low quality plans were subjected to increases. With the exception of one quality component, all components in high quality plans were found to be associated with decreases in restraint and seclusion use.
Conclusions: The results support earlier preliminary findings that quality of behaviour support plans are associated with reductions in restrictive intervention use. The findings are important because they suggest that increasing quality of behaviour support plans may lead to decreases in restraint and seclusion over time.

Does the cognitive interview promote the coherence of narrative accounts in children with and without an intellectual disability?

We examined whether the cognitive interview (CI) procedure enhanced the coherence of narrative accounts provided by children with and without intellectual disabilities (ID), matched on chronological age. Children watched a videotaped magic show; one day later, they were interviewed using the CI or a structured interview (SI). Children interviewed using the CI reported more correct details than those interviewed using the SI. Additionally, children interviewed using the CI reported more contextual background details, more logically ordered sequences, more temporal markers, and fewer inconsistencies in their stories than those interviewed using the SI. However, the CI did not increase the number of story grammar elements compared with the SI. Overall children interviewed with the CI told better stories than those interviewed with the SI. This finding provided further support for the effectiveness of the CI with vulnerable witnesses, particularly children with ID.

Review : a history of intelligence and "intellectual disability"

In many respects, A History of Intelligence and Intellectual 'Disability' is a confronting work. At a literal level, it comprises eighteen chapters verging on a total of quarter of a million words, apart from twenty-two pages of primary and secondary sources. Many of its chapters are drawn from Chris Goodey's articles since the early 'nineties in such journals as Ancient Philosophy, Archiv für Geschichte der Philosophie, History of the Human Sciences, and Political Theory. However, he immediately warns us that such articles exist as a "more primitive form" (vii) of the current volume.

Community based rehabilitation for people with disability in Iraq

This thesis explores the role of government and non-government organisations and international agencies in community based rehabilitation in Iraq. It examines the possibility of initiating and running community-based rehabilitation programmes for people with disability by NGOs regardless of Iraqi government commitment or participation. The research results show that implementation of CBR in Iraq is vital but not widely- spread. Non-government organisations seem more active, committed and capable in the time being to initiate, run and manage CBR programmes compared to the government of Iraq. Despite the high numbers of people with disabilities and lack of capacity to respond to their needs, there is little evidence that the Iraqi government has made efforts in adopting CBR as a cost-effective response.

Arson treatment programmes for offenders with disability : a systematic review of the literature

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to identify and evaluate treatment for adult fire setters with an intellectual disability, given the specific risks they present, the complexities of criminal proceedings associated with their behaviour, and subsequent rehabilitation. However, the review also took into account programmes for fire setters in the wider population, including those for children and adolescents, given that such research might also inform the development of programmes for offenders with an intellectual disability.

Design/methodology/approach – A systematic review of the literature was undertaken.

Findings – Only four studies which evaluated treatment programmes specifically for arsonists with an intellectual disability were identified. Although each of these studies reported a reduction in fire-setting behaviour following programme completion, all employed relatively weak research designs. An additional 12 studies investigating programmes for arsonists without intellectual disability were also identified. It is concluded that there is a lack of evidence regarding treatment programme outcomes for arsonists with an intellectual disability. The extent to which such programmes can be adapted to suit adult offenders with an intellectual disability is discussed, with recommendations made for the design and evaluation of arson treatment programmes for offenders with intellectual disabilities.

Originality/value – Currently, minimal treatments programs exist for fire setting in offenders with intellectual disability. This review highlights the importance of further research into treatment programs for this specialised population.