Search results for ‘Subject term:"learning disabilities"’ Sort:
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Reflections on deinstitutionalization in the United Kingdom
- Authors:
- HAMLIN Alexandra, OAKES Peter
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Policy and Practice in Intellectual Disabilities, 5(1), 2008, pp.47-55.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Deinstitutionalization has been the hallmark of public policy for people with intellectual disabilities within many countries in the developed world for the past 40 years. Although within Britain deinstitutionalization is set to be completed by the end of 2008, beyond the simple closure of hospitals, the success of this initiative can at best be seen as uncertain. Although huge structural change has been achieved, the initiative's outcomes in terms of reduced distress, mainstreamed services, and enriched networks of relationships, require further examination. In order to reinstate the possibility of transformation in the lives of people with intellectual disabilities, it is necessary to return to an analysis of the relationship between people with intellectual disabilities, their supporters, formal services, and the community as a whole. One way of reflecting on these relationships is through an examination of the discourses that characterize them. The authors reflect on the themes of protection, power and humanity, and the manner in which these have survived the physical closure of long-term care hospitals. The continuation of deinstitutionalization is understood as requiring consideration of the institution in terms of the discourses that were prevalent within it. The transformation of services now depends on changes within these discourses and change now needs to be focused on relationships that challenge institutional discourses.
A step towards personalised learning
- Author:
- LITTLE Peter
- Journal article citation:
- Adults Learning, 19(5), January 2008, pp.12-13.
- Publisher:
- National Institute for Adult Continuing Education
This article explores the development of the Foundation Learning Tier (FLT). It is a recent provision which, it is hoped, will facilitated personalised and flexible learning for learners with learning and other disabilities.
Everyone can save energy
- Authors:
- LEEDS ANIMATION WORKSHOP, (Producer)
- Publisher:
- Leeds Animation Workshop
- Publication year:
- 2008
- Pagination:
- (8 mins.), DVD
- Place of publication:
- Leeds
Three short easy to understand animated films that show ways of keeping warm, saving energy, saving money and combating climate change. The films have been made for people with learning disabilities who are tenants, who live in sheltered housing, who already own a home of their own, or those about to start living independently. The DVD also comes with an accompanying poster, and can also be used for training purposes. Produced in consultation with CHANGE and Mencap.
You can do it
- Authors:
- WEST GLASGOW COMMUNITY HEALTH AND CARE PARTNERSHIPS, (Producer)
- Publisher:
- Glasgow University. Centre for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities
- Publication year:
- 2008
- Pagination:
- DVD
- Place of publication:
- Glasgow
Produced in collaboration with the Scottish Consortium for Learning Disability and Glasgow Disability Sports Team, this DVD is designed to help people with learning disabilities get active. Also available to view online.
Learning disability and other intellectual impairments: meeting needs throughout health services
- Editors:
- CLARK Louise L., GRIFFITHS Peter, (eds.)
- Publisher:
- John Wiley and Sons
- Publication year:
- 2008
- Pagination:
- 244p.
- Place of publication:
- Chichester
This book details the provision of healthcare to people with learning disabilities, highlighting their needs when using mainstream NHS services including general practice, acute hospitals and community health clinics. The editors provide an introduction to learning disability and the future of services to those with learning disabilities and other intellectual impairments. Ten further chapters illustrate topics such as: meeting needs, effective communication, transitions in the ageing population, dementias, emergency and urgent-hospital based care, admission to acute mental health services, psychopharmacological issues, challenging behaviour, and consent and capacity. The key skills and knowledge needed by professionals in order to work with intellectually impaired patients are outlined in the context of a care programme approach and it is suggested that these can be transferred by healthcare professionals who regularly work with this group. The concerns of the editors that we are losing, not developing core skills within the NHS since healthcare for those with learning disabilities has been desegregated, normalised and brought within the mainstream are evident. The reader is asked to think critically about the reality of the provision of general healthcare in the lives of this client group.
Quality of life for adults with learning disabilites in private residential care: monitoring aspects of life experiences over time
- Author:
- SKEA Derek
- Journal article citation:
- Mental Health and Learning Disabilities Research and Practice, 5(2), October 2008, pp.253-265.
- Publisher:
- South West Yorkshire Mental Health NHS Trust and University of Huddersfield
The quality of life (QoL) of a sample of 56 adults with learning disabilities was studied longitudinally over 18 months while they lived in community-based private residential homes. Six homes participated in the study. The Life Experiences Checklist (L.E.C) which considers a person’s home environment, leisure, freedom, relationships and opportunities, was used as a measure of QoL. The L.E.C was administered to participants on three occasions at approximately six-monthly intervals. Simple feedback reports giving overall results for the L.E.C (and other measures) were produced for each home at the end of each of these three phases. The L.E.C. results showed that overall participants’ QoL changed significantly over the course of the study, with assessed QoL peaking at phase two after homes had received the first feedback report, and decreasing to near phase one levels by the end of the study. People living in one of the homes, however, sustained the observed improvement in QoL over time. Comparisons were drawn between the L.E.C results for the sample and the general population living in the same area. The sample experienced a lower QoL than the general population regarding Relationships, Opportunities and Freedom L.E.C. sub-scales and had a comparable QoL regarding the Home sub-scale, and higher scores with respect to the Leisure sub-scale. Results are discussed in terms of subjective and objective QoL measurement as an indicator of quality of service provision and in particular the effects of feedback and monitoring per se. It is apparent that in the absence of intervention no sustained improvements in QoL are seen in this sample.
Don't leave people behind
- Author:
- BATES Peter
- Journal article citation:
- A Life in the Day, 12(4), November 2008, pp.16-18.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
The modernisation of day services presents many challenges. One key challenge is not to abandon the people that these services have traditionally supported. The author, from the National Development Team, makes a plea for a modernisation process that clearly recognises the needs of this important group.
What makes an ideal support person?
- Author:
- FURZE Yvonne
- Journal article citation:
- Learning Disability Today, December 2008, pp.28-29.
- Publisher:
- Pavilion
- Place of publication:
- Hove
The author describes a project that set out to discover what skills, knowledge and attitudes people who had a learning disability wanted in the workers who were enabling them to live more independently. The project highlights the difference between a carer and an enabler.
A creative touch
- Author:
- LAY Josephine
- Journal article citation:
- Learning Disability Today, December 2008, pp.20-21.
- Publisher:
- Pavilion
- Place of publication:
- Hove
Reports on the work of the charity Touch Trust, which uses creative arts to help open up new horizons for individuals with learning disabilities.
The effectiveness of Talking Mats with people with intellectual disability
- Authors:
- MURPHY Joan, CAMERON Lois
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Learning Disabilities, 36(4), December 2008, pp.232-241.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
People with intellectual disability have significant difficulties in ensuring their voice is heard. Talking Mats is a low tech communication resource which helps understanding and supports expression. This study examined the effectiveness of the resource for people with intellectual disability. A mixed method quantitative and qualitative study involving 48 people at four levels of comprehension was designed to compare the effectiveness of Talking Mats with the individual's main communication method. Thirty of the 48 participants were identified as using Talking Mats effectively. Effective use of Talking Mats was associated with functional comprehension. The study found that scores on all indicators of communication effectiveness were higher when using Talking Mats compared to main communication methods.