Search results for ‘Subject term:"learning disabilities"’ Sort:
Results 1 - 10 of 50
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)
Examining pre-retirement and related services offered to service-users with an intellectual disability in Ireland
- Authors:
- LAWRENCE Stephanie, ROUSH S.E.
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Intellectual Disabilities, 12(3), September 2008, pp.239-252.
- Publisher:
- Sage
- Place of publication:
- London
The purpose of this study was to describe the pre-retirement and related services offered to service-users with intellectual disability in Ireland. Increasing numbers of service-users with an intellectual disability are living into older adulthood, creating important challenges for services providers. The National Intellectual Disability Database 2007 (NIDD) suggests that the population of service-users with an intellectual disability in the Republic of Ireland is an ageing population. Significant ongoing demands for new retirement-related intellectual disability services and enhancement of existing services are indicated. It is unknown how to support the development of a retirement policy to meet this growing need. The findings of this survey study indicate that there is, in general, recognition among Ireland's service providers of the need for retirement options for this population, although little attention has been directed towards formalizing these services through policy-making. There are few retirement policies in place, limiting the implementation of comprehensive services to meet the changing needs of ageing adults with an intellectual disability.
Art as therapy: an effective way of promoting positive mental health?
- Author:
- HEENAN Deidre
- Journal article citation:
- Disability and Society, 21(2), March 2006, pp.179-191.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
The aim of this study is to evaluate the contribution that creative arts can play in promoting positive mental health and well-being. The research is based on a case study of an innovative art therapy programme delivered by a community-based mental health organisation in Northern Ireland, as part of a supported recovery programme. The study reported here explored the experiences and perceptions of the service users through in-depth interviews and focus groups. The art as therapy course was credited with improvements in self-esteem and self-confidence. It provided a safe space for reflection on mental health issues. Participants described the programme as cathartic and a springboard for engagement in a wide range of further projects. It is concluded that this type of project which addresses mental health issues in a supportive, positive, non-clinical environment can encourage and facilitate empowerment and recovery through accessible creative programmes. However, to date these programmes are time-limited, small-scale and marginal to the approach adopted by statutory service providers.
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.
Easing the way into adulthood
- Authors:
- DOBSON Jonathan, JAY Nadine
- Journal article citation:
- Community Living, 13(4), April 2000, pp.18-19.
- Publisher:
- Hexagon Publishing
Reports on the CREDO (Creating Real and Equal Development Opportunities) Project, which aims to develop good practice and planning with young disabled people as they look forward to adult life.
Day services and home care for adults with learning disabilities across the UK
- Author:
- HATTON Chris
- Journal article citation:
- Tizard Learning Disability Review, 22(2), 2017, pp.109-115.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
Purpose: This paper compares data from national social care statistics on day services and home care for people with learning disabilities across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Design/methodology/approach: National social care statistics (England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland) reporting the number of adults with learning disabilities accessing day services and home care were reviewed, with data extracted on trends over time and rate of service use. Findings: Regarding day services, despite some variations in definitions, the number of adults with learning disabilities in England, Scotland and Wales (but not Northern Ireland) using building-based day services decreased over time. Data from Scotland also indicate that adults with learning disabilities are spending less time in building-based day services, with alternative day opportunities not wholly compensating for the reduction in building-based day services. Regarding home care, there are broadly similar rates of usage across the four parts of the UK, with the number of adults with learning disabilities using home care now staying static or decreasing. Social implications: Similar policy ambitions across the four parts of the UK have resulted (with the exception of Northern Ireland) in similar trends in access to day services and home care. (Edited publisher abstract)
Making a difference. Visual health needs of people with a learning disability
- Authors:
- MCGLADE Anne, et al
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Learning Disabilities, 38(3), September 2010, pp.187-193.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
This article discusses the findings from a study to assess the impact of corrective eye treatment in adults with a learning disability. The service was delivered by the Special Visual Assessment Clinic (SVAC) an optometry led, multi professional out-reach service delivered in a Resource Centre in Belfast, Northern Ireland. It was designed to provide high quality optometric services to people with learning disability and to improve the uptake of visual assessments amongst this group of the population. The study, which included user and carer input in its design, involved 15 people with a learning disability, 21 of their family carers, and 12 members of staff in interviews, group discussions, completion of checklists and clinical audit. The findings revealed that prior to the SVAC taking place there was limited awareness of vision related problems amongst all these groups. Following assessment and corrective treatment which, in the main included the provision of glasses, there was a heightened awareness of visual needs and of the benefits of eye examinations which included some tentative links to quality of life.
A shadow council
- Author:
- GAULT Nicola
- Journal article citation:
- Learning Disability Today, 10(2), April 2009, pp.34-35.
- Publisher:
- Pavilion
- Place of publication:
- Hove
Due to different local structures, Northern Ireland has no partnership boards and so an alternative way of involving people is needed. This article describes an initiative to give adults with learning disabilities a formal platform to comment on policies affecting them through a shadow local council.
Releasing educational potential through movement: a summary of individual studies carried out using the INPP test battery and developmental exercise programme for use in schools with children with special needs
- Author:
- BLYTHE Sally Goddard
- Journal article citation:
- Child Care in Practice, 11(4), October 2005, pp.415-432.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
This article provides a summary of findings from a series of independent studies that have been undertaken separately. The studies used a specific developmental test batter - the Institute for Neuro-Physiological Psychology (INPP) Developmental Test Battery for use in schools with children with special educational needs - with a total of 810 children, to assess whether neurological dysfunction was a significant factor for underlying academic achievement. The results showed that the children who participated in the daily INPP exercises made significantly greater improvement on measures for neurological dysfunction, balance and coordination. Children who had scores of more than 25% on tests for neurological dysfunction and whose reading age was less than their chronological age at the outset also showed small but significantly greater progress in reading that children who did not take part in the programme.