Search results for ‘Subject term:"learning disabilities"’ Sort:
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Professional training in early intervention: a European perspective
- Author:
- PRETIS Manfred
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Policy and Practice in Intellectual Disabilities, 3(1), March 2006, pp.42-48.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Professional training in early childhood intervention (ECI), particularly additional certificates, degrees, or continuing education, is currently a major topic within European working groups. The complexity of ECI, including medical, pedagogical, psychological, and social involvement, the need for both family- and child-centered work, and the child's young age require professional skills that normally exceed standard professional training in the field. This article focuses on current efforts to define a "common ground" of ECI, focusing on the competencies and skills needed for successful early intervention. Common ground issues focus on personal competencies, the knowledge base, joining the family, individual intervention methods, and team-related activities. The author concludes that there is a strong need for a common professional ground in terms of philosophy, ethics, comparable standards, and evidence-based intervention methods. Recent European efforts have been focusing on this common ground by designing a common "passport on the professional training" in ECI.
Equal measures: closing the accessibility gap
- Editors:
- SHIPLEY Tony, GILL John, (eds.)
- Publisher:
- COST
- Publication year:
- 2005
- Pagination:
- 24p.
- Place of publication:
- London
The European Union has produced a set of Directives governing the provision of electronic communications facilities. People who have disabilities, or who are elderly and are now experiencing some loss of function, are at risk of exclusion from this new world of electronic communications unless special note is made of their needs. However, the pace of technological change is such that specific technical measures are quickly rendered obsolete, and so have no place in legislation that is intended to be of lasting value. If the primary legislation can only point to the basic fundamentals, and if the market-place is not yet ready to acknowledge a wider spectrum of functional ability amongst its customers, how can this risk of exclusion be addressed? The aim of this publication is to show how, with a degree of European co-operation, the powers devolved to national regulators can be applied to close the gap and bring in short- term measures that are consistent with the overall framework while addressing immediate problems of accessibility.
European Knowledge Centre for the Prevention of and Response to Sexual Abuse of People with a Learning Disability
- Authors:
- LESSELIERS Joan, MADDEN Phil
- Journal article citation:
- Tizard Learning Disability Review, 10(3), July 2005, pp.18-21.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
Reports on a project to establish a European Knowledge Centre for the Prevention of and Response to Sexual Abuse of People with a Learning Disability. The idea of founding a Knowledge Centre originates from the need for systematic structural support for exchanging information and knowledge about sexual abuse - particularly for and from a service provider's perspective. The Knowledge Centre is easily accessible, allowing enquirers to gain information and to be linked to other services and networks to learn about their experiences and research, and to forge new links.
Towards a better future for the self advocacy movement
- Author:
- BRIGHT Andrew
- Journal article citation:
- Community Living, 13(4), April 2000, pp.13-14.
- Publisher:
- Hexagon Publishing
The author traces the growth of the People First movement, which grew from the wishes of people with learning difficulties to change their lives, and looks forward to its future.
Sheltered employment in five member states of the Council of Europe: Austria, Finland, Norway, Sweden and Switzerland
- Authors:
- SAMOY Erik, WATERPLAS Lina
- Publisher:
- Council of Europe
- Publication year:
- 1997
- Pagination:
- 67p.,bibliogs.
- Place of publication:
- Strasbourg
Comparative study looking at the situation of sheltered employment in the twelve Member States of the European Union. The data for each country is grouped under the following headings: institutional context; target population; access to sheltered employment; characteristics of the people in sheltered employment; and a discussion of the topics currently under debate around sheltered employment in each country.
Unheard voices: researching participation in social work
- Author:
- UREK Mojca
- Journal article citation:
- European Journal of Social Work, 20(6), 2017, pp.823-833.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
The article draws attention to the loss of contract power of people, especially those with learning disabilities. It shows a gap between policies and ideology of participation on the one hand and lived experiences of participation practices in the care proceedings’ systems on the other. Users’ participation seems to be a trademark of contemporary EU social policy or mental health policy, while children’s participation is the most emphasised part of child-friendly justice discourse, but the question arises whether they really are in place. The national and European research projects conducted by the author are used to emphasise the most problematic points, but also innovative social work and advocacy practices. The central focus of the article is therefore the author’s recent EU research project ‘Access to Justice for Children with Mental Disabilities’, which has addressed the participation of children with learning disabilities in all stages of the legal processes. In the case of Slovenia, these are mainly taking the place at centres of social work. The findings showed that in spite of the progress towards participation of children in general in social care decisions, children with mental disabilities remain virtually invisible. (Edited publisher abstract)
Resolve: a community-based forensic learning disability service specialising in supporting male sex offenders: our model, approach and evidence base for effective intervention
- Authors:
- GRAHAM Anne, HARBOTTLE Celia, KING David
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Intellectual Disabilities and Offending Behaviour, 7(4), 2016, pp.186-194.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to examine a model of effective forensic practice with positive interventions for men with learning disabilities who have committed serious sexual offences. It outlines the theoretical and philosophical frameworks which have informed the model of care and support in a community-based setting and the evidence base for the efficacy of the approach. Design/methodology/approach:This approach to a community-based forensic learning disability service is informed by systemic practice and underpinned by models of human occupation (Keilhofner, 2008) which informs occupational therapy and total attachment (Harbottle et al., 2014). This is a whole systems model for developing compassionate and participatory practice based on attachment theory and approaches to professional parenting drawn from foster care settings and prevention frameworks for adult safeguarding. It uses Klinean Thinking Environments (1999) to give practical communication to the model. Findings: The attachment model which underpins both the support for staff and the framework for scaffolding the care and support provided for service users is building calm, consistent and respectful relationships. This enables workers and service users to feel accepted through the availability of support; to feel a sense of belonging and inclusion in which skills and confidence can flourish helping all to feel more effective. This is evidenced by the stability of the service user group and the staff team. Research limitations/implications: The model of whole system care and support care outlined in this paper can help to provide a therapeutic environment in which men who have committed sexual offences can develop effective skills within a safe, supportive and effectively managed setting. This is on-going research but there is evidence of service users and staff in this model of practice, feeling scaffolded, able to enjoy and achieve progress and personal development. Practical implications: This model appears to promote stable, sustained, supportive relationships. Placement breakdown has been minimal indicating that the disruption rate is low and therefore therapeutic interventions are likely to take place and be effective. This is a hopeful and positive approach which enables individuals to flourish in a safe environment. Social implications: The social implications of this model are positive for creating a stable workforce in an industry plagued with rapid turn over of staff to the detriment of the quality of life for service users. It creates stability and confidence for the residents allowing them to begin to relax and thereafter achieve more positive relationships. Originality/value: This paper examines the application of theoretical frameworks drawn from other disciplines and fuses them into a therapeutic approach to support this service user group. It is a model that can have great portability to other settings but it is its application in forensic services that is new and which is growing its evidence base for its effectiveness. (Publisher abstract)
Improving person centred technology for disabled people in Europe
- Author:
- BARNARD Steve
- Journal article citation:
- Llais, 101, Winter 2011, pp.3-5.
- Publisher:
- Learning Disability Wales
ImPaCT was a three year European project exploring how assistive technology, used in a person-centred way can benefit people with disabilities. During the project, Learning Disability Wales worked alongside eight other disability organisations from Europe. One of the project partners reports on its aims and achievements, now that the project is coming to a close.
Ageing and health status in adults with intellectual disabilities: results of the European Pomona II study
- Authors:
- HAVEMAN Meindert, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disability, 36(1), March 2011, pp.49-60.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
POMONA II was a European Commission funded public health project collecting information from 14 countries using a set of key health indicators specifically relevant for people with intellectual disabilities. This research focused on age-specific differences relating to environmental and lifestyle factors and the 17 medical conditions measured by the POMONA Checklist of Health Indicators. The article describes how information was collected using the POMONA Health Interview Survey and Evaluation Form from a sample of 1,253 participants in Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Romania, Slovenia, Spain, and the United Kingdom. It then presents the results of the analysis, with tables showing characteristics of people with intellectual disabilities in the study, frequency of social contacts with relatives or friends according to age, lifestyle risk factors in people with intellectual disabilities according to age, and general and age-specific prevalence rates of health problems. The authors discuss how healthy older adults with intellectual disabilities are with regard to lifestyle factors, and whether there are health disparities between older adults with and without intellectual disabilities. They note that some evidence of health disparities was found for older people with intellectual disabilities, particularly in terms of under diagnosed or inadequately managed preventable health conditions.
The right to political participation of persons with mental health problems and persons with intellectual disabilities
- Author:
- EUROPEAN UNION AGENCY FOR FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS
- Publisher:
- European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights
- Publication year:
- 2010
- Pagination:
- 24p.
- Place of publication:
- Vienna
The right to vote and to be elected is a fundamental right that all citizens in the European Union should be able to enjoy, on an equal basis. The report highlights international and European standards in this area and analyses the current legal framework in all 27 EU Member States, with the intention of contributing to knowledge about and the process of reform currently taking place in the EU Member States. The report starts by describing the international and European standards favouring the full participation of persons with intellectual disabilities and persons with mental health problems in the electoral process. The comparative law analysis then highlights the diverse approaches adopted in the EU Member States. In a majority of these, persons who have lost their legal capacity are automatically deprived of their right to political participation. The European Court of Human Rights, however, clearly stated that such an automatic deprivation contravenes the European Convention on Human Rights. In other EU Member States, the practice is to organise an individualised assessment of the actual ability to vote of the individuals in question. Finally, a third group of EU Member States have moved towards full participation of persons with disabilities in the electoral process. The report provides suggestions for the way forward to make sure that the standards in this area are applied in practice.