Throughout this study, I had to face up to my role as the researcher and make the
extra effort be aware of my own prejudices and particular perspectives of the world. My
experience as a professional in a helping profession with learning disabilities was similar
to the experiences described by the participants. I learned early in the interview process
that my role as the researcher was to report the stories as revealed by the participants and
not to attach my own meaning to the stories that they told. As a result, I established
procedures to maintain good boundaries between their experiences and points of view
and my own points of view and experiences.