Interdependence: The Pathway to the Inclusion of People with Intellectual Disabilities and Immigrant Disability Support Workers

Deanna Joyce Neri

doi:10.18357/anthropologica6412022757

Authors

Deanna Joyce Neri

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18357/anthropologica6412022757

Keywords:

Friendship, inclusion, people with intellectual disabilities, immigrant, care work

Abstract

Friendship and social connections generally improve quality of
life and well-being. However, research shows that people with intellectual
disabilities face challenges forming and maintaining friendships. Disability
support workers play an indispensable yet under-recognized role in
developing friendships with people with intellectual disabilities. Because
disability support workers are disproportionately immigrant women, as they
facilitate the inclusion of their clients, they too experience social isolation.
After conducting in-depth interviews with disability support workers living
in Edmonton, Canada, for my master’s thesis project, I offer the following
observations. First, staff and clients became friends with one another in part
due to weak family ties and limited social networks. Second, relationships that
felt genuine helped staff better understand their clients and gave the staff a
deeper sense of purpose in life. Third, the context, environment, and frequency
of meetings were essential for the development of friendships. Fourth,
friendships among people both with and without disabilities were crucial for
community development. Overall, based on these interviews I suggest that
genuine friendships between people with intellectual disabilities and care
workers can help foster a sense of belonging and are integral to community-
building. My research also suggests that the meaning of friendship ought to
be expanded beyond current understandings.

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