A Textured Life: Empowerment With Developmental Disabilities

Thirty years ago, spending one's life in a large institution was, for most adults with developmental disabilities, the norm. Three decades later, theirs is a very different world. Deinstitutionalization has been heralded as bringing about a return to a life of "community." To support adults with developmental disabilities so that they might live in our communities, new social policies have been adopted. As a result, these individuals, those who were released from large institutions to return to the community and those who have never experienced life in a large institution, are confronted with a new reality. This book explores that new reality, focusing on the adults themselves and their experiences.
The authors conducted one of the most extensive surveys of Canadian support services available for adults with developmental disabilities. Every province and territory contributed information on the services they offer, including how they are funded. After this initial survey, the authors visited five different regions of Canada where they conducted 141 in-depth interviews with the targeted adults, their families and support staff.

Alison Pedlar is an associate professor in the Department of Recreation and Leisure Studies at the University of Waterloo.