Community safety skills of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities

Abstract

Community safety skills for people with intellectual disabilities to ensure personal safety and are valued by individuals with intellectual disability and their carers alike, although individuals with intellectual disability remain at greater risk of injuries than the general population. This chapter reports the results of a systematic review of the safety literature. Studies that addressed responding to lures from strangers, being lost in the community, road safety, bullying, first aid, and putting out a fire. Results on acquisition of these skills through procedures, such as modeling, behavioral skills training were quite positive. Data on generalization were mixed and there was insufficient data on long-term maintenance. The chapter concludes with practitioner recommendations and a case study illustrating the applications of these research findings.