"I’m in a position of power" : How influence and self-determination of people with disabilities are perceived by care staff

The aim of this study was to examine in which way people with disabilities who live in group housing have influence and self-determination in cultural and leisure activities. The intention was to obtain an understanding of the staff’s perspective, and the people interviewed were chosen by a strategic selection. The study was based on interviews with five different people who all worked as care assistants in various group housings across two different counties in Sweden – all in different workplaces. The interviews were performed with a semi-structured method in order to gather as much useful information as possible. The results of this study showed that there are several factors that affect the influence and self-determination in cultural and leisure activities of people with disabilities. These factors have been divided into categories, which are: ‘A kind of parenthood’, ‘Communication difficulties could create hindrances’, ‘The commitment of the staff is an important factor’, and ‘The economy is in control’. The results were analysed based on two different types of theories, which were empowerment and power. In summary, the study showed that people with disabilities were highly dependent on their staff and their commitment to influence and have self-determination in cultural and leisure activities. Economy was also a key factor for influence and self-determination, meaning that the more money a person has, the more activities he or she can afford. These two major factors could create great injustice amongst people with disabilities