Main Content

Life Plans of People With Mental Disabilities

Term: 04/2015 to 03/2017

Project management and coordination: AP Dr phil.  Hendrik Trescher

Implementing institutions: Office for Diversity and Teaching Development 

Associates/Partners/Contributors:  Praunheim workshops gGmbh; Teresa Hauck, MA, Michael Börner, MA

Research assistant(s): Stefanie Schneider, BA

Financing: Praunheimer Werkstätten gGmbh

 Project description:

The objective is to reconstruct the biographies of adults with mental disabilities. In addition to people who can provide information about this themselves, the biographies of people who are considered to be 'non-verbal' are also to be reconstructed.  To this end, the biographies of as heterogeneous a group of people with mental disabilities as possible will be studied.  These range from clients from the area of 'sheltered assisted living' to clients from an 'intensive living group', involves men and women, people who still live with their parents and those who live in their own home. Research will also be conducted on young adults who work in a day support center, as well as older, retired people.  Special foci include a) detachment conflicts and the role the family of origin plays, b) personality development and future perspectives, especially in the context of institutionalized care structures. Based on the results, strategies are to be developed to provide educational support for people with (severe) mental disability in such a way that they can develop and/or achieve an individual life and fulfil future plans in the best possible way.