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Position Statements

A position  paper is one that says what ASID believes in,  based on the research in the area. A position statement is the same but shorter.

Scoping Review of Position Statements

In 2019 ASID paid for a scoping review of Position Statements relevant to people with intellectual disabilities.

The full report of the project is available here, and a paper based on the review is published in the 2021 June issue of RAPIDD.

A sub-committee of the ASID Board made up of academics, checked the 125 position statements identified to assess their currency, values and rigor. Two groups were identified those that were current, relied on evidence and aligned with the values of ASID and those that were dated, not based on evidence or did not follow the expected format of a position statement. Both sets of position statements can be accessed HERE.

In recent years ASID has produced position statements on Dedifferentiation and People with intellectual Disabilities and Intellectual Disability and Complex Support Needs and endorsed statements produced by other organisations on COVID 19 and People with Intellectual Disabilities, and the Importance of Physical and Mental Health for People with Intellectual Disabilities in the Criminal Justice System.  

It should be noted that the Board has not yet endorsed any of these position statements.

Dedifferentiation

Disability policies increasingly refer to ‘people with disability’, often missing out on  the unique issues associated with having an intellectual disability. There are advantages and disadvantages to this position.

For example, it can mean that specialist knowledge about supporting people with intellectual disability to participate is not recognised and that practice and programs are not well adapted to their needs. But it can also strengthen advocacy and avoid the stigma often associated with being labelled as having an intellectual disability. ASID has used the term Dedifferentiation to refer to not differentiating people with intellectual disability as a particular group.

ASID, in collaboration with Professors Jennifer Clegg and Christine Bigby has developed a position statement on Dedifferentiation, and two background papers, a literature review published in RAPIDD and a shorter summary.