A qualidade de vida das crianças e dos jovens com dificuldade intelectual e desenvolvimental

Abstract

Intellectual and Developmental Difficulty (DID) is a permanent Special Educational Need (SEN). Although initially conceived only as a below-average intelligence quotient, the current definition of DID also considers the existence of limitations at the level of adaptive behavior (CA). In this way, DID is no longer perceived as a characteristic of the person, and is seen as a characteristic of the interaction of the person with the context where it is inserted and, consequently, the necessary support for their full inclusion in school, social and professional. Associated with this new paradigm, and following this new approach, the concept of quality of life (QOL) appears, functioning as a guideline in the intervention. Thus, the main objectives of this study were: to examine the validity and reliability of the Personal Outcomes Scale-Children and Young People (EPR-CJ); and to understand, from the perspective of children and youth with DID and their respective education professionals, the perceptions about the QOL of this population. Through a quantitative, descriptive, correlational and cross-sectional investigation, in which 54 children and youngsters with DID and 54 education professionals were surveyed, it was possible, on the one hand, to confirm the validity and reliability of the EPR-CJ and, on the other hand, in the perspective of children and youngsters with DID and when comparing the eight domains of the EPR-CJ with each other, it is in the dimension of Self-Determination that they have lower values of their QOL, and in the field of Emotional Well-Being that the values are higher. On the other hand, from the perspective of education professionals, the QOL of children and young people with DID is lower in Personal Development and better in Physical Well-being.

Date of Award	27 Dec 2017
Original language	Portuguese
Awarding Institution	Universidade Católica Portuguesa
Supervisor	Cristina Simões (Supervisor)