3391 - SOCIAL PARTICIPATION IN ADULTS WITH DISABILITIES WHO IDENTIFY AS LGBTQIA+

Session: 3268 - THE INTERSECTION BETWEEN SEXUAL ORIENTATION, GENDER IDENTITY, AND DISABILITY: CROSS-CULTURAL AND CROSS-GENERATIONAL INSIGHTS
AUTHORS:
Moreno Alexander (Department of Psychology, Université de Montréal ~ Montreal ~ Canada) , Yule Ashleigh (Ashleigh Yule Child Psychology, Athabasca University ~ Calgary ~ Canada) , Neumann-Mascis Andreas (The Meeting Point ~ Boston ~ United States of America) , Caamano Carlota (Centre de recherche de l'Institut universitaire de gériatrie de Montréal (CRIUGM) - Innovation, Technology, and Cognition (INTECOG) Laboratory ~ Montreal ~ Canada) , Pelletier Pénelope (Department of Psychology, Université de Montréal ~ Montreal ~ Canada) , Chourot-Ferland Samuel (Faculté de science politique et de droit, Université du Québec à Montreal ~ Montreal ~ Canada) , Dubois Mégan (Department of Psychology, Université de Montréal ~ Montreal ~ Canada) , Rigoulat Célia (Department of Psychology, Université de Montréal ~ Montreal ~ Canada) , Hong-Kim Annette (Department of Educational and Counselling Psychology, McGill University ~ Montreal ~ Canada) , Turk Céline (Department of Psychology, Université de Montréal ~ Montreal ~ Canada) , Martino Alan (Community Rehabilitation and Disability Studies, Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Calgary ~ Calgary ~ Canada)
Abstract text:
Introduction:
Individuals who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning, intersex, asexual, and other sexual orientations and gender expressions (LGBTQIA+) often face significant barriers to social participation in areas such as healthcare, employment, education, and community life.


Purpose:
To explore social participation of adults with disabilities who identify as LGBTQIA+ in the province of Quebec, Canada.


Method:
A cross-sectional study was conducted with 14 individuals with disabilities who identify as LGBTQIA+, with a mean age of 35.4 years (SD = 11), residing in the province of Quebec, Canada. The majority reported physical (71.4%) and mental health-related (78.6%) disabilities. Most participants were white (78.6%) and cisgender women (42.9%), with the most common level of education being a high school diploma (28.6%). Participants reported receiving between one and four disability diagnoses. They completed the Client's Intervention Priorities (CIP©), a self-assessment tool designed to evaluate life habits. The assessment includes two domains: Daily Activities (21 items), which covers nutrition, physical fitness, personal care, communication, housing, and mobility; and Social Roles (20 items), which encompasses responsibilities, interpersonal relationships, community life, education, employment, and recreation.


Results:
Descriptive analyses revealed low levels of social participation, as indicated by the overall CIP total score (M = 3.7; SD = 1.65). The Social Roles domain (M = 3.0; SD = 0.8) was more impacted than the Daily Activities domain (M = 4.5; SD = 0.3). The lowest levels of participation were reported in areas related to education, employment, and community life.


Conclusions:
Individuals with disabilities who identify as LGBTQIA+ in the province of Quebec report greater challenges in fulfilling social roles related to education, employment, and community life. Exploring their priorities in these areas of social participation can help inform targeted recommendations to support and enhance their inclusion and engagement at these levels.