Intellectual disability is often discussed in terms of dependence, social support and participation. The right to participate is important in different social contexts; however, because of able-minded judgement there are diminished opportunities within these contexts for disabled people to experience social justice. How intellectual disability and participation are talked about (re)constructs discourses and affects individuals within these discourses. This study explored how staff and leaders talk about participation and intellectual disability. Ten social support services staff and disability sports leaders were interviewed, and the interviews were analysed using discursive psychology. The study showed that intellectual disability is constructed through discourses of being (ab)normal and as an inconvenience for participation. These discourses diminish disabled people’s abilities, rendering participation powerless.

Inspired by ideas of able-mindedness, this study explored athletes’ experiences of participation in disability sports. The athletes included were active members in sports clubs targeting people with intellectual disability. The study focused on their perspectives on and understanding of participation, as well as on their accounts of positioning and self-identification, in disability sports. In all, 17 athletes were interviewed. Using thematic analysis, three themes were singled out: identity construction and positioning, the (dis)able-minded athlete and facilitation of participation through others. The results show that participation influences identity construction and is a basis for a common athletic identity. This study offers important knowledge for the facilitation of participation and for the elucidation of able-mindedness in disability sports.

Funktionshinderidrotten är ett tveeggat svärd - den kan både stärka deltagarnas identiteter och sociala relationer, men även upplevas vara exkluderande och marginaliserande från annan idrott. Men i slutändan väger det positiva över, menar deltagarna själva.

This study sought to explore different understandings of participation in daily activity services among people with intellectual disabilities. Using a pedagogical sociocultural perspective, the research focused on individuals' perspectives and understandings as well as their account of social interaction, working and learning. In all, 17 people working in daily activity services were interviewed once, and, of these, 14 were interviewed a second time. Using qualitative content analysis, two themes and three categories were singled out. The results show that participation can be understood in two major ways: social interaction and performing work tasks.

Thirteen carers were interviewed about their ethical reasoning when using a common staff approach to restricting smoking for a psychiatric in-patient. A constructed case structure and a vignette method were used in the interviews, and manifest content analysis of the texts exposed five ethical positions adopted by the carers: ‘best for the person’, ‘best for the patient’, ‘best for others involved with the person/patient’, ‘best for me as a carer’, and ‘best according to rules and regulations’. A second manifest content analysis of language showed terms that expressed value judgments in regard to the carers’ personal experiences. Some carers argued at first from one ethical position, but when the question was changed, they argued from an opposite ethical position. Results may be understood in light of dialog philosophy; ethical reasoning during use of a common staff approach tends to focus either on relations with others or with oneself.

År 2030 beräknas var fjärde person i Sverige vara 65 år eller äldre. Dettaställer stora krav på kunskapen om åldrandet och åldrandets sjukdomaroch omvårdnad av äldre personer – i synnerhet när det gäller de allra äldsta.Äldre personer som bor på särskilda boenden är ofta multisjuka ellerhar nedsatt beslutsförmåga, i huvudsak till följd av demenssjukdom.De finns i dag goda kunskapsunderlag som visar att hög omvårdnadskompetensinte bara ger en kvalitativt bättre omvårdnad, det ger också eneffektivare vård. Ändå förefaller varken stat, landsting eller kommuner haen strategi för hur omvårdnadskompetensen i vården av äldre skall kunnasäkras och utvecklas.Vård och omsorg av äldre skall vara personcentrerad och bygga påevidensbaserad kunskap där vetenskapliga metoder används för att förståoch bedöma den äldre personens komplexa vårdbehov. Trots det stora behovethar idag bara två procent av sjuksköterskorna en specialistutbildninginom äldrevård.Svensk sjuksköterskeförening har i mer än 100 år arbetat med att utvecklaomvårdnad. Svensk sjuksköterskeförening vill gärna ha dialog medkommuner och landsting, staten, pensionärsorganisationer och alla som ärintresserade av en god omvårdnad för äldre personer.