Composition of Membership in Communities ofAdults with Developmental Disabilities

Abstract

Following the growing interest in child developmental disorders, adult developmental

disorders have also become a social issue, but improvements in support

for adults with developmental disorders is insufficient when compared with

the demand. Instead, there is a growing need for peer support. There are also

many points which have not been clarified regarding methods by which persons

with developmental disorders presenting various characteristics share and solve

their difficulties. This paper examines how users mutually guarantee “trust” and

reduce social uncertainty in communities of persons with developmental disorders.

　The findings of this paper are as follows. First, the diagnosis of “developmental

disorder” by itself has no significant meaning in confirming membership in a

community of people with developmental disorders. Second, being a person

with a developmental disorder is a condition for professionals to be trusted as

supporters. Third, based on the trust that they are experiencing similar difficulties,

ritualistic acts are exempted in the community. Fourth, the members of the

community confirm their own physical condition by referring to the physical

conditions of other members. Fifth, the exemption of ritualistic acts leads to the

nullification of interpersonal risks.