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Commentary on "The Confidential Inquiry into the deaths of people with learning disabilities: the story so far"
- Author:
- DAWKINS Beverley
- Journal article citation:
- Tizard Learning Disability Review, 16(5), 2011, pp.26-28.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
The National Officer for Profound and Multiple Learning Disabilities at Mencap considers in this article the potential impact of the Confidential Inquiry into the deaths of people with learning disabilities and the process of conducting the Confidential Inquiry as outlined in an article by Pauline Heslop and Anna Marriott (Ibid). The commentary discusses the Mencap report Death by Indifference, which exposed examples of unequal health care for people with learning disabilities and was one of the reports contributing to the call for the Confidential Inquiry. It also debates whether and how the inquiry process will address the issues of indifference and discrimination documented in the Mencap report. The author suggests that, as well as the findings of the inquiry, political will to change the way health services are delivered to people with learning disabilities in the future will be crucial.
Valuing Tom: will Valuing People Now change the lives of people with profound and multiple learning disabilities?
- Author:
- DAWKINS Beverley
- Journal article citation:
- Tizard Learning Disability Review, 14(4), October 2009, pp.3-12.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
This article describes how 60% of parents of children and adults with profound and multiple learning disabilities (PMLD) spend more than 10 hours a day on basic physical care, with one third of these parents having a continuous caring role for 24 hours a day, and 78% of families had either no care support, or less than 2 hours per week. Valuing People Now (Department of Health, 2009) recognises that some people, particularly those with complex health needs, have been missing out, and it has made ‘including everyone’ a priority for the next three years. Using Tom's story to illustrate the point, this article considers the reasons why people with PMLD remain among the most marginalised people in society today, what has changed since Valuing People (Department of Health, 2001) and what needs to change in the next three years of delivering Valuing People Now if we are to rise to the challenge of ‘enabling extraordinary people to live ordinary lives’. The article discusses the lack of planning for such people, and the subsequent lack of care provision. The author concludes that since Valuing People Now has acknowledged people with complex needs have been missed out is a real step forward, but that real inclusion will only be achieved by understanding, acknowledging and meeting the specific needs of people with PMLD.
Demanding a better life
- Author:
- DAWKINS Beverley
- Journal article citation:
- Learning Disability Today, 10(4), May 2010, pp.24-25.
- Publisher:
- Pavilion
- Place of publication:
- Hove
Following the Department of Health commissioning research on prevalence, it is estimated that there are over 16,000 adults with profound intellectual and multiple disabilities in England today. This article describes a newly published report, the Valuing People white paper that says families of people with profound intellectual and multiple disabilities should not have to battle for equality, and the fact that this is an easily identifiable group with undeniable needs for support should make improving services easier. The author outlines how the profound and multiple learning disabilities (PMLD) network, a collaboration between MenCap, the Foundation for People with Learning Disabilities, and voluntary sector organisations, has contributed to the development of the report by giving their views on the issues at hand. The author highlights the barriers for people with profound intellectual and multiple disabilities – prejudice, discrimination and low expectations – and how the report seeks to address these issues.