Family Experiences in the Social Inclusion of Adolescents

The study concerns adolescents with intellectual disabilities and their social inclusion, and how this social inclusion is experienced by family members. The aim of this study was to find out about the factors related to the social inclusion of adolescents with intellectual disabilities. This is a descriptive study with a qualitative and exploratory approach, carried out in April 2018 at the Association of Exceptional Parents and Friends (APAE), in Sobral-Ceará. Eleven mothers of adolescents with intellectual disabilities took part. Data was collected through a semi-structured interview, which covered the socio-economic profile of the families studied, the family as a support for social inclusion, social inclusion from the perspective of carers and the process of family coping with social inclusion. The information was organised and subjected to thematic content analysis. The research was approved by the Research Ethics Committee of the INTA University Centre (UNINTA) under Report No 2.568.762. The study highlights the profile of the families studied, with a low level of schooling and a low income, with only benefits as a source of income.