Collaborative workshops as a method for researching violence against persons with intellectual disability

This article examines collaborative workshops as a method for researching violence against persons with intellectual disability. Participants included professionals from healthcare, social services and the police, and experts by experience who took part in three workshops focused on violence against persons with intellectual disability. Eleven participants and three researchers contributed, with researchers facilitating, documenting, and journaling the workshops. Data from documentation and journals were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis. Participants’ experiences were grouped into four themes: Expectations and mutual decisions, A learning experience, The workshop climate, and Being part of something important. Researchers’ experiences were grouped into four themes: A mosaic, Atmosphere and commitment, The examined intervention, Expectations and ideas. The findings suggest that collaborative workshops can generate practice-relevant knowledge and integrate diverse perspectives. They also provide valuable learning opportunities for all involved. Successful workshops require careful planning, openness to participant input, and a supportive, inclusive atmosphere.