People with intellectual disabilities form an important subgroup of people with special needs. In the last years, the development of social welfare services is strongly governed by the concepts of normalization and deinstitutionalization. Therefore, a strong focus is given to the promotion of relocating the people with intellectual disabilities from the institutions to small living communities located within small settlements or towns. Living communities can represent the most appropriate accommodation alternative for some people with intellectual disabilities. Although their independence is higher than in institutions, the living communities still provide all the services required. Establishing community living arrangements in the local environment, the people with intellectual disabilities become visible and recognisable. To realize enhanced quality of living, the inclusion of users to the local community should be assured. However, the local community needs to embrace their new neighbours. While still remaining a problem, the successful inclusion stem from the appropriate awareness, empathy, and sensual relationship to the people with intellectual disabilities. Empirical study was conducted using a sample of 112 adult respondents from the upper Carniola region to asses their awareness and views about the people with intellectual disabilities and establishment of living communities. It was found out that the respondents have a medium knowledge level on the people with intellectual disabilities. Still, some characteristics of them are wrongly attributed to mental disorders. Views of the respondents about establishment of living communities in their neighbourhood were positive in general. Furthermore, a large number of respondents would like to be more aware of the intellectual disabilities. To provide the appropriate informations, the short video presentation or brochure were found as the most desired. It was shown, the prior relations of respondents with the people with intellectual disabilities do not have a statistically relevant association with their views on establishment of living communities. However, statistically relevant differences were found between the respondents views on establishment of living communities and gender. The women have a more positive views than man. Statistically significant differences were found in respondents education level and their views on living of people with intellectual disabilities in the local environment. The results of empirical study were the basis for the brochure on the people with intellectual disabilities, their characteristics, wrong views, and stereotypes. To improve the knowledge of general public on the people with intellectual disabilities, the page on social media - Bodi v stiku - was launched. In the future, the students of Special and rehabilitation pedagogy at the Faculty of Education of the University of Ljubljana and different institutions for people with intellectual disabilities will also join the project.
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