Inclusive Housing Environments for People With Intellectual Disabilities: Systematic Review of Characteristics and Influencing Factors.
Mª Ángeles Quesada-Cubo, Antonio Iáñez-Domínguez, Rosa Mª Díaz-Jiménez
PMID 41201449WHAT IT FOUND
A systematic review of 73 studies identifies five environmental dimensions for inclusive housing: physical, social, natural, symbolic, and supportive.
It highlights that structural accessibility alone is insufficient, emphasizing the need for social inclusion, personal autonomy, and meaningful community connections.
Key findings
01The review identified five interrelated environmental dimensions relevant to housing design for people with intellectual disabilities: physical, social, natural, symbolic, and supportive (care).
02Transitioning to community housing does not inherently guarantee better quality of life or inclusion, with evidence suggesting persistent 'transinstitutionalization' where exclusionary logics remain.
03The symbolic environment, often overlooked, is critical for well-being, involving sense of belonging, self-expression, and the feeling of home, which cannot be achieved by physical accessibility alone.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTsWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
Geographical bias: The majority of studies were from the UK and other Anglophone countries, limiting generalizability to other cultural and regulatory contexts. Sample bias: Many studies relied on third-party reports (staff, family) rather than direct input from people with intellectual disabilities, potentially missing the person-centred perspective. Terminological fragmentation: Inconsistent use of terms across studies hampers comparability. Exclusion of grey literature and non-peer-reviewed sources may have omitted relevant practical evidence.
Declared interests
The authors declare no conflicts of interest. Funding was provided by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation and the European Regional Development Fund.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume that physical accessibility or community placement automatically leads to inclusion or well-being. The review highlights that without attention to social, symbolic, and supportive environments, residents can still experience exclusion and alienation.
Summarised by AI from the full paper, without a clinician reviewing it. Check it against the source before it changes what you do. Read it on PubMed →