Quality of life in disability: validation of schalock's multi-dimensional model in the portuguese context

Abstract

This paper aims to evaluate the validation of Schalock's quality of life multi-dimensional model (1996) in the Portuguese context. We also analyze the quality of life of disabled people by adding a political dimension (adapted from the Minorities' Rights Support Scale by Nata & Menezes, 2007) to this construct and seeking to understand the impact of discrimination. The sample is composed of 217 participants, most of whom have a physical disability, aged 16 to 81. Validation procedures of the Quality of Life Questionnaire (Schalock & Keith, 1993) and descriptive statistics and correlation analysis were conducted. Confirmatory Factor Analysis revealed good local and global fit indices, and the internal consistency of the scales was satisfactory. An adapted version of the instrument composed of five scales-satisfaction, competence, empowerment, equality of rights and positive discrimination-is proposed. The results reveal the importance of rights and empowerment for the quality of life of disabled people and indicate a strong critical consciousness concerning the experience of discrimination in different contexts. Taken together, the findings indicate the strong need for social and political changes in this domain.