A Proposed Framework for Using the Life-Coaching Process to Enhance the Quality of Life of Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities: A Case Study

By: Shpigelman C.-N.
Published in: Journal of Policy and Practice in Intellectual Disabilities
SDGs : SDG 03  |  Units: Social Welfare & Health Sciences  | Time: 2019 |  Link
Description: People with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) often find themselves excluded from community participatio n due to environmental barriers, especially stigma. These barriers can negatively affect their psychological well-being and quality of life. Life-coaching as a short-term and action-prone process can increase goal attainment in various life-domains and lead to enhanced quality of life. Nevertheless, to date, few life-coaching interventions have targeted individuals with IDD. This case study article aimed to demonstrate the feasibility of a conceptual framework for practicing life-coaching with individuals with IDD, by describing two cases of individuals with IDD who participated in a life-coaching intervention. Life-coaching, based on the proposed framework, can be a potential intervention to enhance the capability set, self-determination skills, and overall quality of life of people with IDD. It appears that in order for the life-coaching process to successfully address psychosocial aspects of the quality of life concept among people with IDD, it must be tailored to their needs and competences. © 2019 International Association for the Scientific Study of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities and Wiley Periodicals, Inc.