Service users’ views of the Research Active Programme
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Service users’ views of the Research Active Programme

Eileen Carey Lecturer at the Department of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Limerick
Nancy Salmon Lecturer at the Department of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Limerick
Aideen Higgins Teaching assistant, University of Limerick

Eileen Carey and colleagues describe the content and application of a training course designed to help people with intellectual disabilities become co-researchers

Background The Research Active Programme (RAP) was an eight-week group-based research training programme designed to promote disability rights in research by providing opportunities for people with intellectual disabilities to become co-researchers. This article presents an evaluation of the effectiveness of the RAP from the perspectives of 14 students.

Methods Data collection involved individual pre- and post-programme interviews and weekly post-session group feedback with all 14 RAP students. Interviews were transcribed and analysed.

Results Students’ interests, abilities and learning styles were identified and used alongside continual feedback to guide the curriculum design. Students’ perspectives are presented under four domains: foundations to learning, responsive curriculum development, content learning and complementary learning.

Conclusions From the students’ perspectives, the RAP was a worthwhile investment for them. Participating in the programme provided access to a wider social network in a third-level educational environment and created opportunities for lifelong learners interested in becoming co-researchers.

Learning Disability Practice. 17, 4, 22-28. doi: 10.7748/ldp2014.04.17.4.22.e1511

Correspondence

eileen.carey@ul.ie

Peer review

This article has been subject to double blind peer review

Conflict of interest

None declared

Received: 07 October 2013

Accepted: 03 March 2014

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