International Review of Research in Developmental Disabilities - Chapter 2: Valuing experiential knowledge to complement professional and scientific knowledge within care and support for people with intellectual disabilities

There is an increased emphasis on utilizing and sharing new knowledge within daily practice, in order to optimize the quality of care and support for people with intellectual disabilities. This emphasis involves incorporating three types of knowledge: scientific knowledge, the expertise of healthcare professionals, and the experiential knowledge of people with intellectual disabilities. Collaborating with researchers, professionals, and individuals with intellectual disabilities contributes toward the optimal development of evidence-based care and support. Alongside this collaboration, the incorporation of experiential and professional knowledge is invaluable for applying research findings to both individual cases and unique settings. This paper, firstly, explores how experiential knowledge can complement professional and scientific knowledge and, secondly, underscores the benefits of incorporating experiential knowledge within the development of evidence-based care and support for people with intellectual disabilities.