Does the daily choice making of adults with intellectual disability meet the normalisation principle?

Background: This study examined whether daily choice availability for adults with intellectual disability was consistent with Nirje's (1973) normalisation principle. Method: Ratings of the daily choice availability of 59 people with intellectual disability in group homes and 198 individuals without intellectual disability in family homes were obtained. Results: Level of disability, rather than age, affected choice availability of adult participants. Choice availability was significantly lower for adults with more severe intellectual disability, but no significant difference was found between adults with milder disability and those without intellectual disability. Quadratic and bilinear models were fitted to data from 198 adults and children without disability. The better fitting bilinear model showed an increase in choice availability during childhood that plateaued on reaching adulthood. Choice availability age-equivalents were calculated, which were age-appropriate for adults with milder intellectual disability, but substantially lower than expected for adults with moderate to severe disability. Conclusion: The normalisation principle was met for adults with milder intellectual disability, but not for adults with more severe disability. © 2005 Australasian Society for the Study of Intellectual Disability Inc.