It's better at home - preparation for independent living

On December 25, the employees of the International Laboratory for Social Integration Research spoke at a round table on the results of the project "It's better at home - preparation for independent living".

Photo by Expert-Methodological Center "Special Childhood"

Research trainees Danila Parshchikov and Maxim Gurin presented the report "Educational accompanied living: evaluation of effects at the early stage of implementation" with the results of the research of the program for adolescents and young adults with mental disabilities, implemented by the Expert-Methodological Center "Special Childhood". Supported living is an inpatient replacement technology of social services aimed at normalizing life and maximizing the inclusion of people with disabilities in society. During the program, people with disabilities, both adolescents and young adults, learn to be independent and live several days a week in separate apartments together with specially trained companions.

Elena Iarskaia-Smirnova

The field stage of the research took place from October to December 2023. The research team conducted interviews with chaperones, focus groups and individual conversations with program participants - people with mental disabilities, a series of observations during visits to apartments where the program is implemented and questionnaire survey of beneficiaries from the close family circle, including parents and relatives.

During the presentation, an assessment of changes in the independence skills of people with mental disabilities in the process of implementation of the program of educational accompanied living was presented, as well as an assessment of the satisfaction of parents and relatives with participation in the program. The speakers focused on the benefits of the companion training program, accompanied by recommendations for its improvement.

The survey results show that in the first few months of implementation of the chaperone program, there is a gradual improvement in the independence skills of people with mental disabilities, including self-care, housekeeping, money, communication, communication and time management skills.

The survey results suggest a positive trend in the relationship between family members and people with mental disabilities participating in the Learning Accompanied Living Program. However, in the early stages of the program it is too early to talk about changes in the emotional and physical state of parents and relatives.

Elena Iarskaia-Smirnova

Next year, we plan to continue researching the effects of the educational accompanied living program for different groups of beneficiaries. Elena Yarskaya-Smirnova, Daria Prisyazhnyuk, Danila Parshchikov, Ekaterina Dolgova and Maxim Gurin are working on the study.