Improving Literacy Levels of Adult Offenders with ID - Version 1

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  Evaluating the Impact of the Headsprout Online Reading Program on the Literacy Levels of Adult Offenders with Intellectual Disability.

• IRAS ID

  167303

• Contact name

  David O'Sullivan

• Contact email

  david.o'sullivan@ntw.nhs.uk

• Sponsor organisation

  Northumberland Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust

• Duration of Study in the UK

  0 years, 6 months, 27 days

• Research summary

  Decreased literacy abilities is problematic as it hampers employment and learning opportunities, and can make it more difficult to navigate the world and perform tasks. Adults with intellectual disabilities (ID) typically obtain some of the lowest literacy scores and are ‘functionally illiterate’ (i.e. literacy skills equivalent to, or below, those typically expected for an 11-year-old). For people with ID, poor literacy skills often exacerbate pre-existing difficulties.

  Some people with ID engage in offending behaviour and end up being detained under the Mental Health Act 1983 (amended 2007) in hospital. For these people, just as with other people with ID, literacy difficulties are a major difficulty. There is also the added debate as to whether there is a link between offending behaviour and poor literacy. In reality, offending behaviour is extremely complex with multiple links and causes. However, helping an adult offender with ID to be able to read a letter from his or her family, a health leaflet, or a book, is likely to be empowering and could make a significant difference to that person’s daily interaction with their environment and build confidence and self-esteem. It may also help them to engage better with certain elements of rehabilitation treatment programs and future day service and work sessions.

  This study aims to evaluate whether Headsprout, an online reading program that uses learning principles derived from behaviour analysis, can improve the literacy abilities of adult offenders with intellectual disability detained in hospital. This population may benefit from this program since individuals can learn at their own pace, each complex task is broken down into the smallest teachable components, and there is more emphasis on active responding. Previous research studies indicate positive results using Headsprout with children with autism and ADHD, and secondary school students identified as being ‘at risk of academic failure’.

• REC name

  East Midlands - Leicester Central Research Ethics Committee

• REC reference

  14/EM/1283

• Date of REC Opinion

  23 Dec 2014

• REC opinion

  Further Information Favourable Opinion