Participation and health of persons with multiple disabilities and visual impairment

It is estimated that visual and severe or profound intellectual disabilities affect 10,000 to 15,000 adults in the Netherlands, which is approximately 0.05-0.08% of the Dutch population. These adults have an intelligence quotient of less than 35 points, and their visual acuity is less than 6/18. Comorbidity is very common in these adults, i.e., they often experience other physical impairments, sensory impairments, or medical problems.

People with severe or profound intellectual disabilities and visual impairment (MDVI) encounter numerous physical health problems simultaneously. In addition, they have lower physical activity and physical fitness levels compared to the general population. As a consequence, their ability to perform activities of daily living is decreased. Last but not least, persons with MDVI appear to be at risk of decreased participation.

Royal Dutch Visio and the Hanze University closely collaborate with the Research Centre on Profound Intellectual and Multiple Disability of the Rijksuniversiteit Groningen to perform research in persons with MDVI.
In this symposium, their research and that of international research groups will be presented concerning the following topics: participation, physical health problems, optometric issues, motor activation, and measuring muscle strength of persons