The social relationships model was developed to describe positive relationships between support staff and people with intellectual disability. This article evaluates an educational intervention based on this model.

The exploratory study found that participants, including those with cognitive disability, mostly supported the broad concept of supported decision making. However supporters saw this as a complex, dynamic and frequently chaotic process. Fundamental to the process were relationships and tailoring support to the individual. The skills and knowledge required included communication skills, self-awareness, the capacity...

The study aim discussed in this report was to evaluate whether an intervention based on the relationship model would lead to change in the frequency of social interaction, and the nature of the relationship between direct support staff and people with severe intellectual disability.