Jakub Niedbalski
Self-determination of individuals with intellectual disability (ID) remains an important yet still underexplored area, particularly in relation to institutional support and the role of caregivers in fostering the autonomy of young adults. This study examined the institutional conditions that create opportunities for exercising self-determination in young adults with ID, with particular attention to the role of institutional caregivers. In this study, institutional caregivers are understood as trained professionals-such as social workers, special education teachers, therapists, and support staff-who provide formal support in day-care centers, supported living facilities, community homes, and other institutions offering social assistance and social integration services within the Polish social support system. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with fifteen institutional caregivers of young adults with ID. The transcripts were analyzed using grounded theory procedures. Three key themes emerged: caregivers' personal judgments regarding the promotion of self-determination in individuals with ID; the dynamics between parents and institutional caregivers shaped by their respective beliefs; and the role of caregivers in interactions between parents and their adult son or daughter. The findings highlight the complex and demanding role of institutional caregivers in supporting the self-determination of individuals with ID.