Samenvatting

This case study focuses on the experienced value, operative elements and tensions of the intervention Local support agency LFB. Supported by a coach and a training program people with mild intellectual disability (ID) are working as and being trained to be peer experts in the local community. This qualitative research can be characterized as emancipatory and interpretative and has next to gaining (collective experienced based) knowledge the objective of voice-giving of a minority. Through focus groups with peer experts in training that were done together with a peer expert and half structured interviews among stakeholders data was collected that was presented to coaches who support the peer experts in training. In the last phase of the process, the results from these three perspectives were contemplated with literature to gain a better comprehension.
The study shows that peer experts in training are empowered and developed social valued roles. The tandem corporation of coach and peer expert, combined with the training program, focusing on development and possibilities for learning experiences is an important operative element. The agency provides social activities for people with ID in the local community, works on de-stigmatization, accessibility of information and facilities, facilitating people with and without ID to meet, participation in policy making and offering and facilitating peer support. Tensions originate because the development process of peer experts in training takes time which influences the scope of activities which does not entirely meet the expectations of stakeholders. Nonetheless the intervention is a good example of working towards social inclusion.