Operationalisation of quality of life for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities to improve their inclusion

Abstract

Background: Quality of life (QoL) is regarded as a framework to enhance inclusive education outcomes in different domains for all students, especially for those with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Assessment tools are needed to implement this framework. Although there is a long trajectory of QoL assessment in people with IDD, we identify a lack of instruments for students with IDD who attend to general education contexts.

Aims: The goal of this study is to produce a pool of items in order to develop a field-test version of a QoL instrument for this target group.

Methods: 14 educational professionals participated in a four-round Delphi study, assessing the content of the items proposed according to four criteria (suitability, importance, observability and sensitivity).

Results: The results of this study provided evidence of content validity regarding the pool of items that will be included in a field-test version.

Conclusions: The results obtained are important for the development of a QoL assessment tool to improve the inclusion of students with IDD in general education settings.

Keywords: Delphi study; Inclusive education; Intellectual and developmental disabilities; Quality of life.