REFLECTIONS ON THE GATHERING OF TEENAGERS WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES IN TOTAL INSTITUTIONS

Abstract

The confinement of people with intellectual disabilities in institutions such as nursing homes, asylums and prisons reveals a very old practice. Although notorious social transformations have occurred over the last decades, in recent times it appears that this practice is still a reality in our social environment, such as "correctional" institutes for minors. The person with intellectual disabilities inserted in these institutes can experience traumatic situations, such as physical, sexual and moral violence that hinder their reintegration into social life. These traumatic events can be powered by experiences with young offenders who have committed serious "crimes", as well as by the possible action or omission of professionals that, rather than protecting them, neglect the care, labeling them, not collaborating to their reintegration. If an intellectual deficient commits an offense, the performance of a crew trained to identify the degree of intellectual disability, the dangerousness of the teenager, and the severity of the offense committed, directing him/her to specific institutions, would be essential conditions to minimize the potential traumatic impact, helping to make this person a more autonomous one, with better self-esteem concerning his/her disability.

Keywords: Intellectual Disability; Violence; Total institutions.

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.14244/19827199539