Search results for ‘Subject term:"learning disabilities"’ Sort:
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Family experiences of personalised accommodation and support for people with intellectual disability
- Authors:
- GARCIA-IRIARTE Edurne, McCONKEY Roy, VILDA Dovile
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Intellectual Disabilities, 25(4), 2021, pp.476-489.
- Publisher:
- Sage
- Place of publication:
- London
Previous studies suggest that family members of people with intellectual disabilities prefer them to move to supervised living arrangements such as group homes. In Ireland, personalised arrangements are emerging, but families have had little exposure to this option. In this qualitative study, we explored the perspectives of family members following their relative’s move to personalised support options, mostly from group homes. Semi-structured interviews were conducted in 2011 with a family member of 17 people who had previously moved, with follow-up interviews held with 12 of them up to 18 months later. Thematic analysis on interview transcripts was conducted by three researchers. The family members spoke favourably of the new arrangements. A core theme of enabled independence emerged with subthemes of greater self-reliance in personal care, increased confidence, more social inclusion and gains for relatives. Reservations focussed on the need for more support hours, managing risk and loneliness. (Edited publisher abstract)
Family carers of people with intellectual disabilities in Ireland: changes over 10 years
- Authors:
- KELLY Caraíosa, McCONKEY Roy, CRAIG Sarah
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Intellectual Disabilities, 25(2), 2021, pp.183-191.
- Publisher:
- Sage
- Place of publication:
- London
Data were obtained on nearly 20,000 Irish children and adults living in various family care arrangements in 2007, 2012, and 2017. Over 10 years, the percentage increase in adult persons living with family carers was three times higher than the rise in the general population, with people aged 50 years and over having the highest proportional increase. Also a greater number of persons aged 40–49 group continued to live with both parents in 2017 (47%) compared to 2007 (33%). However, there was marked variation across the nine Community Health Organization areas in the proportions of adults living with family carers (from 49% to 62%). In the coming decades, increased provision will be required in both the quantum and type of supports provided to families so as to sustain their caring role but ensuring equity of provision nationally will be a major challenge. (Edited publisher abstract)
Creating inclusive health systems for people with intellectual disabilities: an international study
- Authors:
- McCONKEY Roy, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Policy and Practice in Intellectual Disabilities, 17(4), 2020, pp.282-290.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Background: Creating equitable access to mainstream health and healthcare service has been promoted as a means of addressing the health disparities experienced by people with intellectual disabilities (ID) globally. Specific Aims: This study addressed two questions: What strategic actions are most likely to bring about inclusive primary, secondary, and tertiary health systems for people ID? What are the system indicators that can be used to evidence a reduction in health disparities for this population? Method: A four‐phase study was undertaken involving an international expert advisory group, literature reviews, and individual interviews with 16 key informants from Special Olympics (SO). These led to an online international survey in which 61 respondents rated the relevance and feasibility of 30 strategic actions and system indicators to promote inclusive systems and reduce health disparities. Findings: All the strategic actions and system indicators were endorsed as relevant but less so for the feasibility of implementing them. Top‐rated strategic actions included the availability of policy statements and practice guidelines on making reasonable adjustments, mandatory training of health professionals on ID, and their involvement as cotrainers in staff training. Discussion: Implementing these strategic actions and system indicators will be a major undertaking and one that is unlikely to be speedily achieved given the many different policy and health systems that exist even within a locality as well as nationally and internationally. Nonetheless, the identified actions and indicators from this study can form the basis for improved access to health and for advancing the human rights of persons with ID. (Edited publisher abstract)
Co-researching with people who have intellectual disabilities: insights from a national survey
- Authors:
- O'BRIEN Patricia, McCONKEY Roy, GARCIA-IRIARTE Edurne
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 27(1), 2013, pp.65-75.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
In undertaking a national study exploring what life was like in Ireland for people with intellectual disabilities, a community of practice was developed involving a core group of co-researchers: five people with intellectual disabilities, four university researchers and three service support staff. An additional cadre of 15 co-researchers with intellectual disabilities was recruited to undertake data gathering and analysis with 23 focus groups involving 168 participants. The research experience was documented through oral feedback, progress reports, minutes and a project review. The key learning is documented arising from the setting up of an inclusive advisory group and implementation of each of six research steps. The study demonstrates feasibility and the added value of university co-researchers recruiting and developing skills together with co-researchers with intellectual disabilities. Topics for further research and development are identified. (Edited publisher abstract)
Beyond friendship: the nature and meaning of close personal relationships as perceived by people with learning disabilities
- Authors:
- LAFFERTY Attracta, McCONKEY Roy, TAGGART Laurence
- Journal article citation:
- Disability and Society, 28(8), 2013, pp.1074-1088.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
This study uses a combination of dyadic and one-to-one interviews with eight couples with learning disabilities in Northern Ireland to gain a better understanding of the meaning and value these relationships bring to their lives. Data collection and analysis was informed and guided by the core principles of grounded theory. Five significant types of benefits were identified from having close personal relationships, namely: comradeship, a sense of contentment, availability of mutual support, coping with the ups and downs of relationships, and a continuing commitment. Service providers could do more to facilitate the formation of close meaningful relationships, and strategies for doing this need to be identified and evaluated. (Edited publisher abstract)
Multi-agency working in support of people with intellectual disabilities
- Author:
- McCONKEY Roy
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Intellectual Disabilities, 9(3), September 2005, pp.193-207.
- Publisher:
- Sage
- Place of publication:
- London
Although health and social services in Northern Ireland are jointly commissioned and delivered, the recent emphasis in government policy on multi-agency working for people with learning disabilities has not extended as yet to the region. A qualitative research study, with informants drawn from a range of sectors and agencies beyond health and social services, nonetheless identified at least 24 different organizations who were participating in some form of joint working. It identified a wide range of organisations working together at regional, area and local levels. The organisations covered a range of functions beyond health, social services and education, and included the police service and district councils. The benefits were seen to outweigh potential difficulties and respondents identified the factors that they had found facilitated joint working as well as the obstacles to it. These centred on the need to build relationships among participants, creating opportunities for partnership working to occur and increasing the capacity of individuals and organizations to work together. The need for further evaluation and research into system change and user involvement is highlighted.
Characteristics of people providing family placements to adult persons with intellectual disabilities
- Authors:
- McCONKEY Roy, et al
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Learning Disabilities, 33(3), September 2005, pp.132-137.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
This study examines the characteristics of 30 placement providers in two schemes operating in Northern Ireland. Information was obtained through individual interviews on their characteristics, their reasons for becoming involved and what they get out of their involvement. All but one were female; two-thirds were aged 50 plus and just over one-third were in employment. The majority of providers have been recruited from the care sector and many had experience of people with intellectual disabilities. Most had come into the schemes because of their personal interest in this client group. No one came solely as a result of seeing an advertisement and only one person explicitly mentioned the financial reimbursement. Over half had been involved for 3 years and more. All felt they gained a great deal of satisfaction and enjoyment from their involvement but stressed the amount of commitment needed to become a provider. The placement providers overall were very satisfied with the way the schemes operated. The main complaint appeared to be in regard to the low payments. Proposals are made for the future development of family placement schemes particularly in the recruitment of providers.
Supporting family carers of children and adults with intellectual disability
- Authors:
- KELLY Caraíosa, CRAIG Sarah, McCONKEY Roy
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Social Work, 20(5), 2020, pp.639-656.
- Publisher:
- Sage
Summary: The extra strains experienced by families who care for a relative with intellectual disabilities are well documented. The provision of overnight (respite) breaks or supports in the home are common ways of supporting family carers. Often demand exceeds supply. Using data from a national register in Ireland, child and adults who received overnight breaks and in-home support were identified along with the characteristics that distinguished them from families that did not have these services. Moreover, changes in provision over a 10-year period were monitored and variations in provision across the country were ascertained. Findings: Overnight breaks were the dominant form of family support in Ireland. However, they were available to fewer persons in 2017 compared to 2007, whereas the provision of home supports remained constant. Persons with severe and profound disabilities were those most likely to receive home supports or overnight breaks as were persons aged 30 years and over. There were persistent marked differences across the country in the provision of home supports, although the variation in the usage of overnight breaks had contracted somewhat in 2017. Applications: Additional investment is needed to provide supports for families, given the increasing numbers of persons with intellectual disabilities living at home. A wider range of support options would provide greater choice and arguably improve the cost-effectiveness of current resources. Frontline professionals, such as social workers, need to be to the fore in persuading service commissioners of these needs based on empirical data as well as their personal experiences. (Edited publisher abstract)
Making numbers count: national datasets on intellectual disability
- Authors:
- McCONKEY Roy, CRAIG Sarah
- Journal article citation:
- Tizard Learning Disability Review, 20(1), 2015, pp.24-28.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
Commentary on the paper "Adults with learning disabilities known to local authorities in Scotland: a national dataset" by Claire Stuart, et al. Drawing on experiences with the National Intellectual Disability Database in Ireland, the authors identify the key elements to be addressed such as the uses to which information from the database will be put; the definition of intellectual disability for inclusion of individuals; defining the information to be gathered; the systems for gathering information; checking and auditing the information that is collected, and the types of reports emerging from the analyses. A national database of persons with an intellectual disability is at least desirable, if not essential, to the delivery of equitable and effective service supports. The advent of computerised data management tools makes this a realistic option in most European countries although debates continue around the protection of personal data and the costs involved in establishing and maintaining dedicated databases. (Edited publisher abstract)
Changes in the provision of residential care for adults with an intellectual disability: a national longitudinal study
- Authors:
- KELLY Fionnola, McCONKEY Roy
- Journal article citation:
- Tizard Learning Disability Review, 17(1), 2012, pp.4-10.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
The Republic of Ireland has a National Intellectual Disability Database (NIDD) of persons with an intellectual disability, which is updated annually. It records people living in various forms of residential provision as well as those living with family carers. This study used NIDD data to explore changes in provision of residential care from 1999 to 2009 for nearly 8,000 adults with intellectual disability in Ireland living in congregated or community-based accommodation. The analysis found that the largest area of growth over the ten-year period was in the provision of community group homes, with just under 50% of people living in community settings by 2009. There was a reduction in the number of places in congregated options, but more people were living in new forms of congregated provision designated specialist units. The article points out that a move from congregated living arrangements to more homely, community-based accommodation is a policy objective in many developed countries, and asserts that outmoded models of residential provision are likely to persist unless there is sustained investment in new forms of provision.