Quality of life : the evaluation services for people with intellectual disability

In this review issues and methodologies pertaining to the promotion and assessment of the quality of life (QOL) experienced by people with Intellectual Disability (ID) are evaluated in light of research findings for people without ID. QOL is discussed in terms of a multidimensional and dynamic construct used as an indicator of psychological and physiological wellbeing. Objective and subjective components of QOL are reviewed, together with social and psychological factors. Various approaches to the assessment of QOL, such as the examination of people's physical location and their opportunity to acquire and apply skills for independent living are considered, together with process-centered and outcome-centered approaches to evaluation. The influence of Social Role Valorization/Normalization and processes such as deinstitutionalisation and community integration are discussed. Difficulties, such as limited receptive and expressive communication skills, encountered when eliciting the perspective of people with II) are considered. So too, difficulties inherent in the use of proxy-based respondents are discussed. It is proposed that future research should address the question of proxy-subject concurrence, including the systematic evaluation of demographic and psychological factors that may affect proxy-subject agreement concerning QOL assessment.