The stigma of intellectual disability dismantled
Transition from institutions to community living is about more than just arranging new housing options for people with intellectual disabilities; it is about disrupting deeply entrenched beliefs, stereotypes and even fears held by members of the wider community. A nuanced understanding of the policies and practices that contribute to discrimination has identified clear points where social action can disrupt stigma, creating opportunities for communities and countries to align with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The NAVIGATING STIGMA (Navigating stigma: People with intellectual disability creating inclusive communities) project was designed to strengthen Ireland's efforts toward the social inclusion of people with intellectual disability by drawing from international case studies and building research capacity within the community of people with intellectual disability. There were three interconnected aspects of this research programme. The first gathered the breadth of experiences of people with disabilities as they navigate stigma in their lives. The second strand, the centrepiece of this project, provided in-depth analysis of experiences of people with intellectual disabilities as they transition from institutions into community living via three international case studies. The third strand expanded the research capacity within the community of people with intellectual disabilities initially in Ireland and then internationally through the Research Active Programme. The innovative approach to knowledge transfer enables people with intellectual disabilities to actively engage in the process of developing accessible accounts of their life stories. In addition to the traditional dissemination approaches, a graphic novel that depicts pivotal moments/relationships in the move to community from institutions has been produced. This project uniquely brought together the perspectives of people with intellectual disabilities and practitioners (service providers, policymakers, academics). The EU-based international research network is poised to contribute to responsive, rights-based social policy that recognises the citizenship of people with intellectual disabilities.