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Background: People with intellectual disabilities have the right to live in the community. As social workers have an important role in decisions regarding residential settings, this study examined their recommendations regarding residential living arrangements of individuals with intellectual disabilities. Method: Using a factorial survey approach 174 social workers were presented with true-to-life vignettes and asked to provide their recommendations regarding housing in community apartments, hostels (large group homes) and meonot (large institutions). Results: Higher likelihood of recommending housing in a community apartment was associated with mild intellectual disability, lack of daily support needs, no sexual abuse history, and stated preference for a community apartment. Social workers' experience in working in a specific residential setting was associated with recommending it. Conclusions: Ongoing training on rights-based ethics and the importance of community inclusion should be provided to social workers. Further, community alternatives should be made available to all individuals with disabilities.

Background: Following the convention on the rights of persons with disabilities (CRPD), various countries have recently amended their legal capacity laws with the aim of restricting the use of guardianship and increasing the use of other, less restrictive practices, mainly supported decision making. As social workers have a key role in carrying out these reforms, this study examines how Israeli social workers make legal capacity-related decisions. Method: Semi-structured interviews with 27 Israeli social workers. Results: Thematic analysis identified three factors driving social workers' recommendations regarding guardianship and supported decision-making: the person's diagnosis and functioning level, and the presence of a supportive family. A fourth factor, the person's preferences, played a complex and more limited role. Conclusions: Many changes have yet to be made to fully apply the support paradigm in Israel, since social workers still tend to base their recommendations on factors not fully aligned with the CRPD.

Purpose: Supported decision-making (SDM) is an emerging and innovative alternative to substitute decision-making practices. While relationships are pivotal in establishing proper and effective SDM, scant research has examined these relationships in-depth. This study explores how decision-making supporters perceive relationships embedded in SDM for adults with disabilities. Furthermore, it compares the points of view of family and volunteer supporters on these relationships. Materials and methods: Using a semi-structured interview guide, in-depth interviews were held with 16 family and 16 volunteer supporters of Israeli decision-makers with disabilities. Results: Both family and volunteer supporters addressed the centrality of the support relationship. However, they differed in their perspectives on the ways such relationships should be formed and on their boundaries. We distinguish between families' continuing relationships vs. volunteers' emerging relationships to emphasize the identified differences. Conclusions: The findings highlighted the importance of relationships to SDM processes, highlighting the need to examine in greater depth whether and how "typical" family relationships differ from SDM relationships. Based on these findings, we recommend training and guidance for both family and volunteer supporters in developing and strengthening these relationships. IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATION: Supported decision-making enhances quality of life as it helps persons with disabilities make and implement decisions. With proper supported decision-making, people with disabilities feel their wishes are recognized and respected. Focus on and awareness of relationship building is crucial and thus its various dimensions should explicitly be incorporated in any training program or policy for supported decision-makers Given adequate training, both family and volunteers can develop positive relationships in supported decision-making schemes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Greater psychopathology among individuals with intellectual disabilities, as well as distress among their parents, are negatively associated with personal growth among the latter. This study examines the role of parents' social support and their attitudes toward service use as mediators of the relationship between psychopathology among adolescents/young adults with intellectual disabilities and growth among their parents. Methods: Structured questionnaires which included measures of psychopathology of individuals with intellectual disabilities, parental distress, social support, attitudes toward service use and personal growth were completed by 195 parents of adolescents and young adults with intellectual disabilities or a dual diagnosis of intellectual disability and psychopathology. Results: Parent's perception of the adolescent/young adult's emotional state and social support were found to be associated with personal growth. Social support was found to mediate the relationships between the adolescent/young adult's psychopathology and parental distress and personal growth. Parents' attitudes toward use of services were not found to be related to growth. Conclusions: Social support plays a pivotal role in the lives of parents of individuals with intellectual disabilities. Professionals working with individuals with intellectual disabilities should seek to enhance social support for their parents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This article presents a conceptual synthesis of the international literature on inclusive education while expanding upon, and incorporating, the articles in this special issue. The authors present their 3P model (philosophy, policy and praxis) and relate each paper in this special issue to different aspects of their model. Design/methodology/approach: This article serves as an epilogue to this special issue of the "Journal of Educational Administration" as well as a discussion of historical and conceptual distinctions between mainstreaming and inclusion while examining global trends in understanding the move toward inclusive education. Findings: The authors examined the detrimental effects of ableism and a medical model of disability and their effects on the educational system. They conducted an analysis based on examining the philosophy, policy and practice of the inclusive movement, specifically by examining conceptual models and inclusive decisions, conceptual frameworks for describing inclusive policy and a focus of the application to educational administration. The authors examined the global movement from segregation/exclusion to integration and then to inclusionary praxis. Research limitations/implications: The authors maintain that the inclusion literature lacks a sound positivistic empirical base, and so they present throughout the article possible avenues for such research as well as future directions for comparative research. Practical implications: Understanding the philosophical underpinnings of the inclusive movement is central to developing viable inclusive educational settings. The authors distinguish between inclusive schools and local educational authorities where stakeholders have moved toward an inclusionary system (the minority) versus locales who are reluctant to move systems to actual change. Originality/value: This article takes a wider view of inclusionary practices, from one focusing on children with disabilities to one focusing on historical and traditional exclusionary practices. By widening the scope of the inclusion discussion, to one of exclusion, the authors present a viably wider lens to educational administration.

Background: Research on supported employment for individuals with intellectual disabilities has focused mainly on its effect on employees. Scant research has assessed the influence on employers and on the work setting. This study focused on a unique program to foster the employment of individuals with intellectual disabilities in the Israeli military and examined the effect of the program on the employers (military commanders) and on the military units. Method: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 28 military commanders. Results: Four themes illustrate the influence of people with intellectual disabilities on the military units in which they work: (a) functioning of the military unit, (b) effect on other soldiers, (c) effect on commanders, and (d) effect on attitudes toward people with intellectual disabilities. Conclusions: Results suggest that employing soldiers with intellectual disabilities has beneficial effects on both commanders and the military units, although some negative attitudes remain and merit interventions.

Introduction: Studies regarding the use of support services for persons with a dual diagnosis of intellectual disability and psychopathology are scarce; even fewer have focused on children and young adults. The aim of the present study, conducted in Israel, was to compare the use of support services and their perceived effectiveness by families of children and young adults with intellectual disability (ID) and with dual diagnosis. Methods: Data were collected from 195 family (parental) caregivers of individuals with ID or dual diagnosis, aged 10-30. Using a structured questionnaire, family caregivers reported on the use of support services and on their perceived effectiveness. Results: Findings showed that in addition to the obvious mental health services, caregivers of individuals with ID and dual diagnosis report using a range of services and resources. Caregivers of persons diagnosed only with ID perceived some of the mental health services as being more effective than did caregivers of individuals with dual diagnosis. Conclusion: We advocate for enhanced training for professionals working with individuals with dual diagnosis within all services. Furthermore, parents need to be supported in their search for services for their child and in dealing with complex situations. In addition, more research is needed to identify why individuals with dual diagnosis may not benefit from current mental health services and, in line with this, develop more effective services. Finally, we advocate for the establishment of a one-stop shop that can provide for the comprehensive needs of these individuals within one center.

To ensure full participation of people with disabilities in research, accessibility of the instruments employed is essential. This paper describes an exploratory research which included the adaptation of the AIR Self-Determination Scale and the Promotion of Autonomous Decision-Making Scale. The adaptation was designed to enable Hebrew-speaking young adults with physical disability, autism, psychosocial disability, complex learning disabilities, deafness or hearing impairment, or blindness or visual impairment, to complete a self-report questionnaire. It included extensive wording simplifications. In addition, original Likert scales were reduced, and symbols were added to improve accessibility. The forms were modified to a coloured format with more visible headings, including use of a screen reader and additional visual adaptations. The adaptation process included three phases: questionnaire adaptation, examination of face and content validity, and a reliability assessment of the final version. The process was informed by input from young adults with disabilities. We conclude that simplified language, symbols, and visual effects should be considered when adapting questionnaires for people with disabilities. In addition, consulting with individuals with disabilities as experts by experience, should be integral to the adaptation of instruments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although many nations advocate for the full inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities in all realms of life, these individuals are nevertheless still frequently excluded. One field of life that has rarely been considered central for inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities is military service. A unique programme was developed that provides an opportunity for people with intellectual disabilities to serve in the military in Israel. The centrality of the military within Israeli society, along with the aims and phases of the project are described, and brief evidence of the impact of the programme is provided.

Introduction: People with disabilities often identify professionals' stigmatic views as significant barriers to accessing mainstream services. This study aimed to examine differences in stigmatic attitudes held by social workers toward individuals with intellectual disabilities (ID), mental illness (MI), or dual diagnosis (DD) of ID and MI. Methods: One hundred and fifty-eight social workers responded to three versions of a structured questionnaire. Participants were provided, in random order, with vignettes describing an individual with ID, MI, and DD, after which they completed the Attribution Questionnaire. Results: Results revealed a significant effect of disability type, so that individuals with MI were perceived to be more responsible for their condition than were individuals with ID or DD. Individuals with MI and DD were perceived as more dangerous than those with ID, and social workers endorsed more coercive and segregating behaviors toward individuals with MI and DD than toward those with ID. No differences were found in helping and avoidant behaviors in relation to disability type, and correlations between stigma constructs were found across all three disabilities. Conclusions: Findings are discussed in light of social workers' obligation to assist individuals to realize their rights to full social and civil inclusion. Given these obligations, they are expected to set aside their personal views and provide help to all their clients regardless of their diagnosis.

Background: Research in the field of family quality of life (FQOL) emphasises the importance of attainable support resources for families of children with developmental disability (DD). In this study we explored FQOL by examining some of its specific domains and expanded upon them. The 2 main aims were to examine differences in FQOL according to the degree of religiosity among Israeli Jewish families and to investigate the contribution of family, social, and governmental service support, as well as religion and spirituality to FQOL. Method: Parents from 170 Jewish families of children with DD aged 3 to 14 years completed a self-administered questionnaire, which included the Family Quality of Life Survey--2006 and instruments measuring family support, social support, support from governmental services, and support through religion and spirituality. Results: Religious families reported a higher FQOL in comparison with secular families. No differences were found, however, between religious and secular families regarding familial, social, and service supports. Familial support and religious and spiritual support were found to contribute to the FQOL of religious families, whereas social support contributed to the FQOL of secular families. Conclusion: These findings help clarify which supporting factors predict the FQOL for families living in Israel. Suitable support resources should be offered to families raising children with DD in order to enhance their FQOL.

Background: Research supports the importance of sports for people with intellectual disability (ID); however, the unique experience of the Special Olympics (SO) World Games has rarely been examined. The aim of this study was to examine how the SO World Games have affected athletes with ID, their parents and siblings, and the relations between their family members. Method: Twenty-three semistructured interviews were conducted with athletes, parents, and siblings within 9 families upon their return from the World Games held in Athens in 2011. Data were analysed using thematic analysis. Results: Four themes were found. The first theme dealt with the World Games' role in developing the athletes' self-identity. The second theme related to the World Games' positive impact on their family's quality of life. The third theme related to the World Games' positive impact on siblings, and the fourth theme related to the importance of participation in the World Games in improving community awareness and inclusion for the 3 groups: athletes, parents, and siblings. Conclusions: The results are discussed and practical implications are highlighted, including the need to increase knowledge and awareness of the SO.

Providing holistic care to individuals with the dual diagnosis (DD) of intellectual disability and mental illness is a challenging task that requires the work of various health care specialists. The aim of the current study was to examine the intentions of students from various fields to work with individuals with DD. A questionnaire was completed by 512 social work, occupational therapy, speech and language therapy, special education, and nursing students in Israel to measure students' attitudes toward working with individuals with DD, as well as their perceptions of subjective norms, controllability, and self-efficacy. Structural equation modeling showed that the students' intentions to work with individuals with DD were predicted by their attitudes and perceptions of subjective norms. Controllability was found to negatively affect their behavioral intentions. Furthermore, social work and nursing students were found to have the lowest behavioral intentions. Given the lack of education in the field of DD and the prevailing stigmatic attitudes toward this population, university programs should focus on increasing knowledge, promoting positive contact, and reducing the fear attached to working with people with DD.

The theoretical construct of stigma has received much attention in psychiatric disability research, leading to the development of widely used measures. Such measures have had real world impact in that they allow for the assessment of stigma change efforts. The study of stigma has not received the same level of attention for persons with intellectual disabilities. In this manuscript we evaluate existing measures of intellectual disability stigma through a systematic review of the literature. Twenty-four scales were reviewed and evaluated. Findings indicate a paucity of stigma measures based on theoretical conceptualizations pointing to a need for further development of measures to pursue the study of public, self, and family stigma as related to intellectual disability. (Contains 1 figure and 3 tables.)

Providing adequate care to individuals with intellectual disability (ID) requires the willingness of students in various health and social professions to care for this population upon completion of their studies. The aim of the current study was to examine the factors associated with the intentions of students from various fields to work with individuals with ID, using the framework of the Theory of Planned Behavior. A structured self-administered questionnaire was completed by 512 social work, occupational therapy, speech and language therapy, special education, and nursing students. The questionnaire measured students' attitudes toward individuals with ID and toward working with this population, as well as their perceptions of subjective norms, controllability, self-efficacy, prior acquaintance with individuals with ID, and subjective knowledge about ID. Structural equation modeling showed that the students' intentions to work with individuals with ID were predicted by their attitudes and perceptions of subjective norms. Field of study and subjective knowledge were also found to be predictive of behavioral intention. The TPB proved to be a useful framework for examining students' intentions to work with persons with ID. Given the lack of education in the field of ID, as well as the prevailing stigmatic attitudes toward this population, university departments should develop programs aimed at increasing knowledge, promoting positive contact, and reducing the fear attached to working with persons with intellectual disability. (Contains 3 figures and 2 tables.)

This study aims to investigate the effect of observer's gender and target's gender on attitudes toward people who use wheelchairs due to a physical disability. Four hundred four Jewish Israeli students without disabilities completed the "Multidimensional Attitudes Scale Toward Persons With Disabilities" (MAS). Initially, confirmatory factor analysis was used to revalidate the MAS. Five factors of attitudes were confirmed: distancing behaviors, positive cognitions, negative emotions, interpersonal stress, and calm. Findings showed that an encounter with a person using a wheelchair raised more positive cognitions and less distancing behaviors, but also evoked more negative emotions, than an encounter with a person without a disability. In the case of an encounter with a person without a disability, men contributed to greater interpersonal stress among women, whereas women contributed to greater interpersonal stress among men. The multidimensional approach revealed that the effect of gender was mostly salient with regard to interpersonal stress. (Contains 2 tables.)

The effect of out-of-home residential placement on families has been previously studied. However, no study has examined this issue through the lens of "family quality of life" (FQoL). The aim of this study was to produce a picture of FQoL among families with a member with an intellectual disability (ID) who has multiple diagnoses (i.e., an additional condition such as a behavioral or emotional disturbance). FQoL before and after residential placement was examined. Sixteen family carers with family members with an ID participated in an in-depth interview focusing on five areas of FQoL: stress, coping, emotional impact, family relationships, and overall FQoL. The authors found that most families reported positive emotional changes after the placement occurred, except for lingering guilt and worry. In addition, after placement, families experienced more freedom, enhanced FQoL, and an improvement in familial relationships. Coping mechanisms, including problem-focused and emotion-focused coping, as well as external support resources, were utilized before and after placement. These findings suggest that an out-of-home residential placement of a family member with an ID both positively and negatively impacts the entire family. The authors propose a number of support recommendations that might serve to enhance the QoL of the individual with a disability, specific family members, and the family as a whole. (Contains 1 table.)

This study presents the development of a new instrument, the "Multidimensional Attitudes Scale Toward Persons With Disabilities" (MAS). Based on the multidimensional approach, it posits that attitudes are composed of three dimensions: affect, cognition, and behavior. The scale was distributed to a sample of 132 people along with a self-esteem measure and a frequently employed attitude scale, the "Attitudes Toward Disabled Persons Scale" (ATDP). The construct and concurrent validity of the questionnaire was demonstrated by reliability and factor analyses, as well as by comparison with the ATDP scale. Principal component factor analysis revealed three correlated but distinct factors. Results show that women hold more positive behavioral attitudes than men. Interestingly, men with high self-esteem were found to hold more positive cognitions than men with low self-esteem. Results indicate the importance of a multidimensional approach both for the construction of sound instruments and for professional interventions aimed at modifying attitudes toward persons with disabilities.

Background: While military settings may increase psychological distress, soldiers frequently avoid seeking professional help. This study aimed to examine barriers and facilitators associated with intentions to seek help and actually seeking help from a mental health officer (MHO) and how these differ among soldiers who had sought help in the past and those who had not. Method: This cross‐sectional study included 263 combat and noncombat soldiers. The Health Belief Model and the Help‐Seeking Model were the theoretical framework used to map the potential variables associated with soldiers' decision to seek help. Results: Stigma and administrative barriers were found to be significant barriers to both the intention to seek help and actually consulting an MHO. These findings were more definitive among combat soldiers. The belief in the effectiveness of mental health treatment was positively associated with the intention to seek help. Positive associations were found between well‐being, perceived seriousness of one's condition, and belief in the effectiveness of mental health care and intention to seek MHO help. Distress and self‐concealment were positively associated with actual consultation with an MHO. Public stigma about seeking help was associated with both the intention to seek mental health assistance and actually consulting an MHO. Conclusion: Military commanders should make an effort to make soldiers feel safe to seek mental health assistance by creating a supportive organizational atmosphere to reduce the stigma associated with mental health care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We examined social workers' recommendations regarding the possible appointment of a guardian, a supported decision maker (SDM), or neither for persons with disabilities. Social workers (N = 328) were presented with four vignettes that contained factors potentially relevant to guardianship and SDM judgments. They expressed higher support of SDM and maintaining the status quo (without a guardian or SDM) and lower support for guardianship. Social workers were more likely to recommend guardianship when the person depicted in the vignette was labeled as having an intellectual disability, needed support in decision-making, lacked familial support, and agreed to guardianship. They were more inclined to support the status quo for individuals with mental illness, when there was little need for decision-making support, when the family was supportive, and when the individual refused guardianship. Social workers who had not heard of the SDM reform, and those with positive attitudes toward guardianship, supported guardianship. Findings are discussed in light of the status and functional approaches to guardianship and the relational notion of autonomy. As part of the SDM reform, decision-making capacity should not be assessed based on diagnosis or on independent decision-making, but rather on the ability to make decisions when receiving appropriate support. Public Policy Relevance Statement: Supported decision-making aims to enable persons with disabilities to make choices with support from others. Social workers, who have an integral role in judgments regarding supported decision-making, should be provided with training in relational autonomy and guidelines on how to make such decisions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traditionally, studies on parenting children with disabilities have focused mostly on experiences of stress. More recently, studies have turned to examining parental coping from the perspective of strength, focusing on the ability to achieve growth and empowerment. Most studies, however, have not examined parental activism as a coping mechanism. Based on the Double ABCX Model of Family Adjustment and Adaptation, this study, conducted in Israel, assessed the adequacy of a theoretical model linking stress, coping, activism, growth, and empowerment of parents of children with disabilities. Activist and nonactivist parents (N = 123) completed a structured questionnaire that included measures of stress, coping, empowerment, and growth. Stress was negatively associated with empowerment and growth, whereas problem‐focused coping and parental activism were positively associated with empowerment and growth. Activism was found to mediate the relationships between stress and growth and empowerment, with lower levels of stress being related to higher levels of activism, which was in turn correlated to higher levels of empowerment and growth. Parental activism, consisting of deconstructing problems faced by the family and demanding change in social discourse with a view toward inclusion, choice, rights, and equality, is a useful mechanism for parents in alleviating levels of stress and enhancing sense of empowerment and growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: While research has focused on understanding teachers' attitudes towards the inclusion of children with special educational needs into general education classrooms, there are lacunae that have yet to be addressed. This study examined the association between perceived self-efficacy and attitudes towards inclusion among elementary school teachers. The study also examined the role of teachers' self-efficacy as a mediating variable between knowledge of inclusion policy, perception of school support and teachers' attitudes towards inclusion. Methods: Teachers (N = 352) working in general or special education schools completed questionnaires assessing attitudes towards inclusion, sense of self-efficacy, knowledge of current policy, and perception of support for inclusive practices. Results: Higher perceived knowledge of inclusion policy and higher perceived school support of inclusion were both related to higher self-efficacy regarding inclusion, which, in turn, was related to more positive attitudes about inclusion. Conclusion: Our results suggest that point to being knowledgeable regarding local and national policy is important in order to increase feelings of self-efficacy regarding the implementation of effective educational practice. To enhance inclusion, local and national policy must be clearly communicated to teachers. Furthermore, leadership and a supportive school environment are conducive to successful inclusive education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background One of the more common behavioral manifestations of dementia-related disorders is severe problems with out-of-home mobility. Various efforts have been attempted to attain a better understanding of mobility behavior, but most studies are based on institutionalized patients and the assessment usually relies on reports of caregivers and institutional staff, using observational approaches, activity monitoring, or behavioral checklists. The current manuscript describes the research protocol of a project that measures mobility in Alzheimer's disease and related cognitive disorders in an innovative way, by taking advantage of advanced tracking technologies. Methods/design Participants are 360 demented persons, mildly cognitively impaired persons, and unimpaired controls aged ≥ 65 in Israel and Germany. Data regarding space-time activities will be collected via a GPS tracking kit for a period of 4 weeks in 3 waves (one year apart) with the same participants (using a repeated measures design). Participants will be interviewed by use of a battery of instruments prior to and following GPS data collection. Further, a family member will complete a questionnaire both before and after data tracking. Statistical analyses will strive to explain differences in mobility based on a wide range of socio-structural, clinical, affect-related and environmental variables. We will also assess the impact of the use of advanced tracking technology on the quality of life of dementia patients and care givers, as well as its potential as a diagnostic tool. Systematic assessment of ethical issues involved in the use of tracking technology will be an integral component of the project. Discussion This project will be able to make a substantial contribution to basic as well as applied and clinical aspects in the area of mobility and cognitive impairment research. The innovative technologies applied in this study will allow for assessing a range of dimensions of out-of-home mobility, and provide better quality data.

Following a rise in the life expectancy of cystic fibrosis (CF) patients, many adults with CF form couple relationships. Yet, dyadic coping has not been previously examined in people with CF. This study examined how adults with CF and their partners cope as a couple with the illness, and what meanings each partner and the couple as a unit attribute to the experience. Seventeen adult CF patients and their partners participated in separate semi‐structured in‐depth interviews. Two main patterns of dyadic coping with CF were identified as follows: cooperation and tension. For couples in cooperation, the marital relationship served as a resource for adaptive coping. These couples were characterized by similarities in their perception of the place of CF in their lives and of their roles in the marital relationship. Couples in tension described the couple relationship as strained by difficulty of accepting the disease, proliferation of negative emotions, and a sense of burden and loneliness in the process of coping. Findings point to the importance of mutual empathy, clear and accepted division of roles between the partners, and open communication for facilitating coping as a couple. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a dearth of studies that have examined the attitudes of society toward people with intellectual disabilities (IDs) on a global scale. This study set out to gauge the extent to which ID continues to be stigmatized and to which initiatives are in place to increase their inclusion and tackle stigma around the globe. Data were collected using a web survey from 667 experts and organizations in the (intellectual) disability field pertaining to 88 countries and covering all world regions. Information about the study was disseminated by four multinational disability organizations, and the survey was available in five languages. Findings and responses indicated that the general public in many parts of the world broadly support the fundamental principle of inclusion of children and adults with IDs, yet negative attitudes persist. High levels of stigma and denial of fundamental rights still appeared a reality in many places. Initiatives to tackle stigma appeared patchy and least in evidence where they were most needed. In many parts of the world the life chances of people with IDs often appear still very poor, and support and advocacy almost entirely their families' responsibility. More needs to be done globally to reduce the stigma associated with ID and to promote active engagement and regular social interactions between persons with IDs and their fellow citizens without IDs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Guardianship of people with disabilities has been under growing scrutiny, leading some welfare states to offer supported decision-making as a legal alternative. This study examined the attitudes of Israeli social work students toward guardianship and supported decision-making and the relationship between these attitudes and the perceived importance of social work goals, as mediated by perceptions of disability. Materials and methods: Participants were 414 undergraduate and graduate level social work students from Israel. Participants completed a structured questionnaire that measured: attitudes toward guardianship and supported decision-making, importance of social work goals, and perception of disability. Results: Although social work students tended to support limiting the scope of guardianship, they did not clearly oppose it. Individual model perspective of disability mediated the association between the social work goal of social control and attitudes toward guardianship. Social model perspective of disability mediated the association between the social work goal of social justice and attitudes toward guardianship. Conclusion: To reduce guardianship appointments, social work educators should educate students better regarding current supported decision-making trends, emphasize the importance of social justice goals, and discuss critically the necessity of social control. Further, educators need to embrace the social model of disability, in particular its view of autonomy and interdependence. The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities has urged limiting guardianship practices, and developing instead less restrictive alternatives, especially supported decision making. In order to fully implement the Convention's vision, efforts must be placed in social work training programs on discussing the limitations of guardianship, the dilemmas it raises and the advantages of other less restrictive alternatives, including that of supported decision-making. Social work educators should also emphasize the importance of social justice goals and discuss critically the necessity of social control. Similar emphasis should be placed on exposing students to the social model of disability, including its view of autonomy and interdependence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined disclosure strategies in cystic fibrosis (CF) and their psychosocial implications for adults. Disclosure styles were examined based on Corrigan and Lundin's (2001) model. In‐depth qualitative interviews were conducted with 42 individuals diagnosed with CF from two CF clinics in Israel. Disclosure of CF is complex and involves multiple strategies. Two main themes regarding disclosure presented here are: (a) disclosure styles and their psychosocial implications, and (b) perceptions of the differences between previous and current disclosure styles. Of disclosure styles suggested by Corrigan and Lundin (2001), most participants were found to resort to secrecy, selective disclosure, and indiscriminate disclosure and very few resorted to avoidance or broadcasting. Disclosure was also dynamic, and individuals changed their disclosure styles during various stages of life and situations, in consideration of its benefits and costs. Decisions regarding whether and to what extent to disclose the illness were based on two processes: weighing the benefits and costs of disclosure and owning the decision to disclose. Professionals should partner with the patients to understand patients' disclosure decisions and support them. Formal and informal support may assist individuals in making these decisions, helping them become aware of benefits and costs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Identity development among individuals with disabilities may depend on their being included in central institutions in society. The centrality of the military in Israeli society makes it a highly important setting for inclusion and identity development. We examined the self-identity of young adults with intellectual disabilities who serve in the "Equal in Uniform" project. Material and methods: Forty-nine interviews were conducted with 31 individuals with intellectual disabilities. Results: Findings showed that military service helped develop the identity of soldiers, which enhanced their self-efficacy. Participants described their participation in the military as an opportunity to take an active part in socially valued roles. Conclusions: Findings are discussed with reference to the effect of the project on the self-identity of individuals with intellectual disabilities. The meaning of successfully serving in socially valued roles for self-efficacy is discussed. Completing socially valued roles leads to greater self-efficacy, enhanced self-esteem and greater psychological well-being among individuals with intellectual disabilities. Inclusion of individuals with intellectual disabilities within a central community setting (specifically the military) allows them to deal with issues of identity development, as it does for other young people without intellectual disabilities. Receiving ongoing positive input from others for one's abilities and success is a conducive factor in positive identity formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Over the last decades, the disability movement has been advocating for a paradigmatic shift in how disability is perceived and managed: from a medical or individual perspective focusing on the person's body and mind to a social perspective emphasizing the context and barriers of disability. However, we still know little about the perceptions of helping professionals, particularly social workers who work closely with disabled people. Thus, the aim of the current study is to develop and validate a scale—Perceptions Toward Disability Scale (PTDS)—to measure how social workers view disability: as an individual or social category. This paper describes the three phases of the scale's construction. First, scale items were formulated and its content validity was examined. Next, a pilot of 30 social workers completed a questionnaire and an initial exploratory factor analysis was conducted. In the third and main phase, the final draft was completed in 2016 by 565 Israeli social work students to assess its psychometric properties. Both exploratory and confirmatory factorial validity and discriminant validity analyses were conducted. The results of a confirmatory factor analysis revealed two distinct factors: an individual perspective of disability comprised of eight items (α = 0.77) and a social perspective of disability comprised of ten (α = 0.66). Subsequent analyses supported the scale's discriminant validity as indicated by the lack of an association between the Attitude Toward Disabled Persons Scale (ATDP) and the social model subscale (r = .13, p = .19) and by the weak negative relation with the individual model subscale (r = −.25, p = .01). These findings show that the PTDS possesses promising construct validity and provide support for its utility. This easy‐to‐administer instrument offers several practical benefits and can serve as a framework for further empirical research regarding social work practice with disabled people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An introduction is presented in which the editor discusses article in the issue on topics including research on mental health, intellectual disabilities diagnosis and discrimination against people with intellectual disabilities.