This report explores the concerns of family carers’ who are caring for disabled adults with complex needs about what will happen to their relative when they are no longer able to provide care. Based on the results of surveys and interviews with disabled people and carers, the report explores the numbers of older people who are caring for disabled adults in the UK, the barriers that prevent them planning for the future and the changes need to improve the situation. It also includes individual case studies and examples of promising practice. Of the carers surveyed, 67 per cent expressed concerns about what will happen to their relative when they are no longer able to provide support the future, with only 25 per cent having made a plan for the future. Barriers to future planning included the complexities of the care system, a lack of support from councils to help families to make contingency plans, and a lack of locally available services. Recommendations to ensure that disabled people with complex needs have arrangements for their future care in place include: a duty on councils to ensure long term care plans are in place and specific support to help disabled people and their families to develop long-term planning. A toolkit to help disabled people and their families to make decisions about future care and support has been published alongside the report.
(Edited publisher abstract)
This report explores the concerns of family carers’ who are caring for disabled adults with complex needs about what will happen to their relative when they are no longer able to provide care. Based on the results of surveys and interviews with disabled people and carers, the report explores the numbers of older people who are caring for disabled adults in the UK, the barriers that prevent them planning for the future and the changes need to improve the situation. It also includes individual case studies and examples of promising practice. Of the carers surveyed, 67 per cent expressed concerns about what will happen to their relative when they are no longer able to provide support the future, with only 25 per cent having made a plan for the future. Barriers to future planning included the complexities of the care system, a lack of support from councils to help families to make contingency plans, and a lack of locally available services. Recommendations to ensure that disabled people with complex needs have arrangements for their future care in place include: a duty on councils to ensure long term care plans are in place and specific support to help disabled people and their families to develop long-term planning. A toolkit to help disabled people and their families to make decisions about future care and support has been published alongside the report.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Subject terms:
disabilities, carers, ageing, care planning, complex needs, severe learning disabilities, long term care, adults, user views, families;
This report, produced for the Jo Cox Commission on Loneliness, explores why loneliness affects so many people with disabilities. It looks at some of the barriers to making social connections for disabled people living with sensory impairments, learning disability, autism, physical and mobility impairment, mental health problems, dementia, head and brain injury, neurological conditions, cancer and HIV. Each section includes the perspectives of disabled people themselves. The report shows that many of the barriers to building social connections for disabled people are practical ones, such as poor access to services, inaccessible transport and venues, and financial challenges. However, social attitudes, poor levels of public understanding and awareness of disability can be a significant barrier to making connections with others. It concludes with suggested changes to help reduce the causes of loneliness and social isolation for disabled people.
(Edited publisher abstract)
This report, produced for the Jo Cox Commission on Loneliness, explores why loneliness affects so many people with disabilities. It looks at some of the barriers to making social connections for disabled people living with sensory impairments, learning disability, autism, physical and mobility impairment, mental health problems, dementia, head and brain injury, neurological conditions, cancer and HIV. Each section includes the perspectives of disabled people themselves. The report shows that many of the barriers to building social connections for disabled people are practical ones, such as poor access to services, inaccessible transport and venues, and financial challenges. However, social attitudes, poor levels of public understanding and awareness of disability can be a significant barrier to making connections with others. It concludes with suggested changes to help reduce the causes of loneliness and social isolation for disabled people.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Subject terms:
loneliness, disabilities, attitudes, learning disabilities, mental health problems, mobility impairment, dementia, head injuries, HIV AIDS, sensory impairments, social isolation;
Based on a series of focus groups and in-depth interviews with people who are deafblind, this report looks at the barriers deafblind people can face when looking for work and seeking to remain in employment. It also includes case studies to illustrate individuals personal experiences of employment. Barriers to finding and seeking work identified include the negative views of employers, a fear of discrimination, a lack of communication support, poor physical access to workplaces, and a lack of awareness of existing employment support programmes. Once in employment people who are deafblind can face discrimination in the workplace, employers that are reluctant to make reasonable adjustments, and can be excluded from informal communications and social events. The report proposes recommendations at a national, local and employer level to enable all disabled people who want to work, including those with more complex conditions such as deafblindness, to benefit from the extra resources the Government is putting in place.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Based on a series of focus groups and in-depth interviews with people who are deafblind, this report looks at the barriers deafblind people can face when looking for work and seeking to remain in employment. It also includes case studies to illustrate individuals personal experiences of employment. Barriers to finding and seeking work identified include the negative views of employers, a fear of discrimination, a lack of communication support, poor physical access to workplaces, and a lack of awareness of existing employment support programmes. Once in employment people who are deafblind can face discrimination in the workplace, employers that are reluctant to make reasonable adjustments, and can be excluded from informal communications and social events. The report proposes recommendations at a national, local and employer level to enable all disabled people who want to work, including those with more complex conditions such as deafblindness, to benefit from the extra resources the Government is putting in place.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Subject terms:
employment, deaf blindness, discrimination, access to services, user views, case studies, recruitment, intervention;
Explores the role of play in the development of children who are deafblind and those with complex disabilities. The report uses real children’s stories to illustrate how to experiment and explore to find play that works, how to learn and grow through play, why early support matters, how families can support families, and how, through playing, children can build strong emotional attachments and friendships. The document includes key recommendations for parents, practitioners and local authorities, calling for easier access to information and advice, early intervention, co-production, specialist support, and accessible play opportunities.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Explores the role of play in the development of children who are deafblind and those with complex disabilities. The report uses real children’s stories to illustrate how to experiment and explore to find play that works, how to learn and grow through play, why early support matters, how families can support families, and how, through playing, children can build strong emotional attachments and friendships. The document includes key recommendations for parents, practitioners and local authorities, calling for easier access to information and advice, early intervention, co-production, specialist support, and accessible play opportunities.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Explores disabled people’s experience of friendship, drawing on the findings from a survey of over 1000 people with a range of disabilities. More than half think that as a disabled person there are more barriers to making and keeping friends – rising to over three quarters for young disabled people aged 18-34. Almost one in four say that the Government’s recent changes to welfare benefits and eligibility for social care have made it harder for them to make and sustain friendships. Over half of disabled people report feeling lonely, rising to 77 per cent for young people. The report examines the barriers to friendship, the impact of lack of friendships, how to overcome barriers, and how statutory services may help. The report sets out a range of solutions to help improve the opportunities for people with disabilities to make friends.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Explores disabled people’s experience of friendship, drawing on the findings from a survey of over 1000 people with a range of disabilities. More than half think that as a disabled person there are more barriers to making and keeping friends – rising to over three quarters for young disabled people aged 18-34. Almost one in four say that the Government’s recent changes to welfare benefits and eligibility for social care have made it harder for them to make and sustain friendships. Over half of disabled people report feeling lonely, rising to 77 per cent for young people. The report examines the barriers to friendship, the impact of lack of friendships, how to overcome barriers, and how statutory services may help. The report sets out a range of solutions to help improve the opportunities for people with disabilities to make friends.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Subject terms:
friendship, social networks, loneliness, disabilities, surveys, social inclusion;
The Centre for Disability Research (CeDR) report 'Estimating the number of people with co-occurring vision and hearing impairments in the UK', predicted that the deafblind population is to rise dramatically as the population in the UK ages. This report from Sense summarises the key findings from the CeDR report, sets out the scale of the challenge facing services, and looks at what needs...
(Original abstract)
The Centre for Disability Research (CeDR) report 'Estimating the number of people with co-occurring vision and hearing impairments in the UK', predicted that the deafblind population is to rise dramatically as the population in the UK ages. This report from Sense summarises the key findings from the CeDR report, sets out the scale of the challenge facing services, and looks at what needs to be done to support the deafblind community. Sense recommends that a number of key actions are taken, including: improved identification of deafblind people; planning and budgeting based on significantly increased future demands; improved health and social care assessments; and provision of appropriate and accessible social care services.
(Original abstract)
Subject terms:
deaf blindness, needs, social care provision, assessment, population;
A guide providing information on key aspects of the Care Act and how they will impact on care and support for deafblind people and people with complex needs. It includes information on: assessment, eligibility, care planning, transition from children's to adult services, and local authority duties. A checklist also contains a list of useful points to ensure that the following needs have been considered: strategic, specialist staff, meeting needs, prevention, information and advice, and market shaping. The guide will be useful for senior managers, policy makers and anyone working in deafblind care and support.
(Edited publisher abstract)
A guide providing information on key aspects of the Care Act and how they will impact on care and support for deafblind people and people with complex needs. It includes information on: assessment, eligibility, care planning, transition from children's to adult services, and local authority duties. A checklist also contains a list of useful points to ensure that the following needs have been considered: strategic, specialist staff, meeting needs, prevention, information and advice, and market shaping. The guide will be useful for senior managers, policy makers and anyone working in deafblind care and support.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Subject terms:
Care Act 2014, deaf blindness, assessment, eligibility criteria, service transitions, local authorities, personal budgets, care planning;
Based on the views of 37 deafblind adults collected using questionnaires and interviews, this study highlights some important findings on the access to and use of hearing technologies. Participants varied in communication preferences, age, gender, geographical location, type/severity of deaf blindness and use of hearing technology. They attribute very high importance to their hearing technologies, because they enable them to perform everyday activities and maintain independence. Their hearing technologies are integral to their quality of life and the loss, even temporarily, of this technology can have a much stronger impact on their health, ability to function and activity engagement and further compound the effects of their dual sensory deficits. The report, examining the experience of deafblind adults accessing audiology services and obtaining hearing and assistive technologies, argues that the services and commissioners need to be sensitive to the combined effects of dual sensory loss and the value hearing technologies can hold for deafblind individuals. Improvements in professional awareness, quality and accessibility of information and long term support would help to provide an optimal hearing aid service and the potential to maximise the benefits deafblind people gain from their hearing technologies. Recommendations based on the results of this study are included in relation to: technology self-efficacy, access to information and service provision.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Based on the views of 37 deafblind adults collected using questionnaires and interviews, this study highlights some important findings on the access to and use of hearing technologies. Participants varied in communication preferences, age, gender, geographical location, type/severity of deaf blindness and use of hearing technology. They attribute very high importance to their hearing technologies, because they enable them to perform everyday activities and maintain independence. Their hearing technologies are integral to their quality of life and the loss, even temporarily, of this technology can have a much stronger impact on their health, ability to function and activity engagement and further compound the effects of their dual sensory deficits. The report, examining the experience of deafblind adults accessing audiology services and obtaining hearing and assistive technologies, argues that the services and commissioners need to be sensitive to the combined effects of dual sensory loss and the value hearing technologies can hold for deafblind individuals. Improvements in professional awareness, quality and accessibility of information and long term support would help to provide an optimal hearing aid service and the potential to maximise the benefits deafblind people gain from their hearing technologies. Recommendations based on the results of this study are included in relation to: technology self-efficacy, access to information and service provision.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Subject terms:
deaf blindness, disabilities, health care, hearing impairment, assistive technology, visual impairment, person-centred care;
This report is based upon the experiences of some of the deafblind people that Sense has supported who are facing extreme difficulties. In 2013 the number of people contacting Sense for support with their social care, benefits or other concerns has increased by 40%. The report suggests that many deafblind people are becoming marginalised and are increasingly unable to leave the house and feel
(Edited publisher abstract)
This report is based upon the experiences of some of the deafblind people that Sense has supported who are facing extreme difficulties. In 2013 the number of people contacting Sense for support with their social care, benefits or other concerns has increased by 40%. The report suggests that many deafblind people are becoming marginalised and are increasingly unable to leave the house and feel part of their local community. More specifically, the following trends have been observed: increasing numbers of deafblind people caught in funding disputes between social services and the NHS; increasing delays in getting a specialist assessment – to which deafblind people are legally entitled; increased number of queries relating to welfare reform in particular – relating to the bedroom tax, disability living allowance and the transfer to Personal Independence Payments; failure of local authorities or to make reasonable adjustments for an individual’s disability; the recommendations made in a deafblind assessment not being followed; local authorities being forced to strip back their budgets by central government and this having a huge impact of service provision. The report calls for the Government to release enough funds centrally to make the aspirations of the Care Bill a reality. Deafblind people and their families need a variety of social care, benefits and support from their local authority in order to be able to feel part of their local community and to live as independently as possible.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Subject terms:
deaf blindness, cutbacks, financing, access to services, disability living allowance, housing, assessment, personal budgets, benefits;
From June to November 2007, Sense’s Deafblind Direct project consulted deafblind people and families on their experiences of direct payments. Respondents included individuals who use direct payments and those who had thought about using them. This summary report includes key findings on how the Department of Health guidance is not always followed for deafblind people, barriers to using direct payments, and issues in managing direct payments. The report also makes recommendations for the government, local authorities and the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI).
From June to November 2007, Sense’s Deafblind Direct project consulted deafblind people and families on their experiences of direct payments. Respondents included individuals who use direct payments and those who had thought about using them. This summary report includes key findings on how the Department of Health guidance is not always followed for deafblind people, barriers to using direct payments, and issues in managing direct payments. The report also makes recommendations for the government, local authorities and the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI).
Subject terms:
local authorities, social care provision, deaf blindness, direct payments;