A human rights framing of the experiences of supporting people with intellectual disability in congregate care: Post-pandemic reflections

Jo Watson; Elena Jenkin; Kate Anderson; Amie O'Shea; Kevin Murfitt; Jennifer David; Susan Taylor; Gemma Ge; Patsie Frawley; Angela Dew

doi:10.3109/13668250.2025.2513336

A human rights framing of the experiences of supporting people with intellectual disability in congregate care: Post-pandemic reflections

J Intellect Dev Disabil. 2025 Jun 13:1-11. doi: 10.3109/13668250.2025.2513336. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Jo Watson^{1

2}, Elena Jenkin¹, Kate Anderson^{1

3}, Amie O'Shea^{1

2}, Kevin Murfitt¹, Jennifer David^{1

4}, Susan Taylor¹, Gemma Ge¹, Patsie Frawley⁵, Angela Dew^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ Disability and Inclusion, School of Health and Social Development, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia.
² School of Health and Social Development, Institute for Health Transformation, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia.
³ School of Computing Technologies, RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia.
⁴ Sydney School of Public Health, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, Australia.
⁵ National Centre of Excellence in Intellectual Disability Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.

PMID: 40511858
DOI: 10.3109/13668250.2025.2513336

Abstract

Background: This study explored human rights concerns of advocates and service providers during the COVID-19 pandemic in residential support services in Victoria, Australia.

Method: A desk-top review informed the content of individual interviews and focus groups with Victorian disability service providers and key advocacy focused agencies with roles in complaint, community visitor, guardianship, or advocacy.

Results: Concerns identified by both stakeholder groups included restricted access to choice, control, and decision making, barriers to communication and self-determination, reduced safeguarding, and a lack of accessible health information. Enablers included increased face to face contact with consistent support staff, and opportunities for increased engagement with friends and family online. Reductions in behaviours of concern and associated restrictive interventions were reported.

Conclusion: Prevention of human rights violations in the context of lockdowns due to disease outbreaks or other disasters can and should be a priority for public health policy in Australia and internationally.

Keywords: COVID-19; congregate care; disability support; intellectual disability; public health; residential support services.