Intellectual disabilities Marie Cederschiöld and La Trobe University

The research program Human Value and Participation (MOD) at Marie Cederschiöld University contributes with knowledge that increases social inclusion and participation for people with disabilities.

Two projects: Implementation of Active Support in group homes and the effects of VIP are devloped with inspiration from Australia, where the working methods have been developed and evaluated. Within our program, we have an ongoing collaboration with two researchers. Prof. Christine Bigby at La Trobe University in Melbourne has conducted several studies of Active Support.

In a close collaboration with Bigby´s research center Active support and the training and evaluation materials connected to the program could be transferred and implemented into a Swedish context. Patsie Frawley is another research partner from Australia, now working in New Zealand as an assistant prof.

Frawley´s work in Australia is the basis for the work with the Swedish VIP-program.

The applicant will discuss and present final results from the Active Support implementation studies with Bigby and her colleagues.

An overall aim is also to form a basis for further collaboration between, and joint studies with, MOD and Bigby´s research group.

During the visit, the applicant will receive a working place, participate in daily work, seminars, present Swedish results, establish further contact with junior researchers and visit group homes and sites of interest to the research project.

Some of the researchers in the collaboration, Tideman and Bigby are experienced professors and it is desirable to extend the collaboration between more junior researchers, to ensure there is a basis for future collaboration, despite the retirement of the now leading professors. The plan is a 3 months stay in Melbourne at La Trobe University.

Within the time period the applicant will make a visit to New Zealand to discuss results of the VIP project and plan for joint publications with Frawley and the Norwegian researchers.