Jul. 07' : On Reaching Adulthood
Beatriz Garvía Peñuelas
Psicóloga del Centre Mèdic Down. Coordinadora del Servicio de Atención Terapéutica (SAT) de la Fundació Catalana Síndrome de Down.
Correspondencia:
Sra. Beatriz Garvía
Fundació Catalana Síndrome de Down
c/ Comte Borrell, 201-203, entresòl
08029 Barcelona
Artículo recibido: 05.06.07
Abstract
To let the intellectually handicapped people to get into the society and become part of it, they need to have a life project, a concept of themselves, and a clear identity. It will make possible to accept the difficulties, to discover their potentials and reinforce their autoestime. Building the identity does not ends-up in the adolescence, it last for the whole life.
Adulthood has more external needs, more if the person is working in ordinary jobs, and it gets less internal support. In adulthood, the persons with intellectual handicaps still need knowing themselves, to be satisfied of what they are doing, to be able to chose, and feel socially valuated.
Keywords: Adulthood. Handicap. Identity building. Mental representation. Social integration.
Psicóloga del Centre Mèdic Down. Coordinadora del Servicio de Atención Terapéutica (SAT) de la Fundació Catalana Síndrome de Down.
Correspondencia:
Sra. Beatriz Garvía
Fundació Catalana Síndrome de Down
c/ Comte Borrell, 201-203, entresòl
08029 Barcelona
Artículo recibido: 05.06.07
Abstract
To let the intellectually handicapped people to get into the society and become part of it, they need to have a life project, a concept of themselves, and a clear identity. It will make possible to accept the difficulties, to discover their potentials and reinforce their autoestime. Building the identity does not ends-up in the adolescence, it last for the whole life.
Adulthood has more external needs, more if the person is working in ordinary jobs, and it gets less internal support. In adulthood, the persons with intellectual handicaps still need knowing themselves, to be satisfied of what they are doing, to be able to chose, and feel socially valuated.
Keywords: Adulthood. Handicap. Identity building. Mental representation. Social integration.
