How we live: participatory research with six people with learning difficulties

Drawing from the Social Model of disability, six people with learning diffi culties participated over 18 months in researching their own lived experien ces. The method involved weekly group discussions supplemented by participa nt observation. The study's value stems from in-depth inquiry, which includ ed the participants in the data collection, analysis, dissemination and con sequences that they found meaningful. The participants lived in nurse manag ed community homes. They described how they had faced social and economic e xclusion, for example, concerning marriage, child rearing and decently paid employment. With the assistance of nursing staff, the participants had ove rcome many other social barriers and were enjoying a wide range of activiti es and choices. Consequently, the participants lived varied lives which the y described as interesting and worthwhile. Contemporary models of nursing h ad successfully directed nursing staff to support 'ordinary living'. Howeve r, some disabling assumptions were evident within contemporary nursing. Hen ce, models of nursing and service delivery were helping both to create life styles that the participants valued, whilst simultaneously contributing to their disempowerment.