Inclusive health for people with intellectual disabilities

Our core argument is that an inclusive approach is required to maximise thehealth and well-being of persons with intellectual disabilities. For the individual,this means redefining health holistically and not as the absence of illness.Family carers and support staff need to work proactively with empoweredindividuals in pursuit of healthier lifestyles. Likewise at a national level, publichealth policy and health promotion strategies need to include the particularchallenges faced by persons with disabilities if the latter are to fully share inachieving health gains.The chapter has four main sections. We consider: (1) how health is central topersonal development and fulfillment; (2) recent evidence about health andintellectual disabilities, noting specifically findings from studies that have movedaway from an over-reliance on biological health; and (3) the emerging interest infinding optimal ways to produce health gain. Finally, (4) we note promisingstrategies to pursue in the three domains of practice, policy, and research relatedto health and lifelong development of persons with intellectual disabilities. Weconclude that the gains of an inclusive focus on health are for everyone.