Hearing all voices: Photo voice as an inclusive, participatory research technique with adults with intellectual disability

Adults with intellectual disabilities (ID) face multiple health disparities, including disparities in research participation. Significant barriers to research participation, including difficulties with recruitment, human subjects protection, discrimination and a prioritization of verbal self-expression, may create the erroneous impression that adults with ID cannot participate in research. Most qualitative research related to adults with ID focuses on the perspectives of family members, caregivers and professionals, leaving adults with ID voiceless. Photovoice is an innovative research method that involves giving participants cameras and asking them to investigate research questions through the use of photography as they document relevant information and data with their cameras. Photovoice has been used successfully with low literacy and vulnerable populations. This poster addresses the use of photo voice with aging and elderly adults with ID, a study that demonstrates that photo voice is an acceptable, valid and productive research method for use with this population. In addition, photo voice was experienced as empowering and impactful. Discussion will include a background in research participation and disparities, human subjects protection and participatory research with adults with ID, tips for successfully using photo voice and lessons learned. Please note that this poster will not discuss the content of the study or study data, which has been submitted as a separate abstract; the focus is on participatory research methods and equitable research inclusion of a disparity population.