What does vulnerability mean?

Abstract

Accessible summary Many people want to make sure that all people with intellectual disability are safe from harm. This report shows that some staff find it hard to say why they feel people with intellectual disabilities need to be protected. Sometimes care staff feel they can stop people with intellectual disabilities doing the things they want to because the staff are frightened those people may be harmed or hurt. Summary Protection of those deemed vulnerable has received increasing attention since 2000. This article reports on care staff views of vulnerability using original data from a research study (Parley. Vulnerability and abuse: an exploration of views of care staff working with people who have learning disabilities, PhD Thesis, 2007) in which care staff views relating to vulnerability and abuse of adults with learning disability were explored. Using semi‐structured interview informants perspectives were explored. The results revealed that most informants felt that people with learning disabilities are all vulnerable and that this definition allows staff the authority to take protective measures to ensure their safety. This desire to introduce protective measures however may result in people with learning disabilities being denied the right to self‐determination, thereby limiting their enjoyment of some life experiences and lessening the excitement of life that others take for granted.

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