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Dedifferentiation and people with intellectual disabilities in the Australian National Disability Insurance Scheme: bringing research, politics and policy together
- Author:
- BIGBY Christine
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disability, 45(4), 2020, pp.309-319.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
Background: Dedifferentiated policy treats adults with intellectual disabilities as part of the larger group of people with disabilities. The implications of the dedifferentiated National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) for adults with intellectual disabilities are explored. Methods: Analysis of peer reviewed and grey literature between 2014 and 2020 about design of the NDIS and outcomes. Results: Many participants experienced problems with NDIS implementation. Outcomes for adults with intellectual disabilities compared poorly to other groups. They were disadvantaged by standardised planning processes relying on self-expressed needs and omission of supported decision making. As the NDIS matures, it is becoming more differentiated but issues relevant to adults with intellectual disability remain largely invisible. Conclusions: Further shifts towards standardised planning and functional assessment may be disadvantageous for adults with intellectual disabilities for whom support needs are dependent on social and contextual factors, and exercise of choice on support for decision making. (Edited publisher abstract)
Providing support for decision making to adults with intellectual disability: perspectives of family members and workers in disability support services
- Authors:
- BIGBY Christine, WHITESIDE Mary, DOUGLAS Jacinta
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disability, 44(4), 2019, pp.396-409.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
Background: Supporting people with intellectual disability to make decisions is an important issue for policy implementation yet there is little evidence about the practice of providing support. Method: This study aimed to understand the experiences of family members and disability support workers in providing support to adults with intellectual disability in Victoria, Australia. Twenty-three people drawn from these two groups participated in individual or focus group interviews. Results: Three major themes emerged from inductive thematic analysis: their ideas about decision support, approaches to support, and challenges they faced. Overall these revolved around juggling rights, practicalities, and risks. Conclusions: This study identified some of the challenges and practical strategies for providing decision support that can be used to inform practice and capacity building resources for supporters. (Publisher abstract)
Mediating community participation: practice of support workers in initiating, facilitating or disrupting encounters between people with and without intellectual disability
- Authors:
- BIGBY Christine, WIESEL Ilan
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 28(4), 2015, pp.307-318.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Promoting community participation for people with intellectual disability through encounter with strangers is an integral part of the mission of disability support workers. This paper offers detailed micro-level analysis of the practices of support workers when they accompany a person with intellectual disability outside their home and explores the subtle differences which make some staff practices more effective than others in promoting more convivial encounters with strangers. Based on 160 h of observations of twenty-six adults with intellectual disability in a variety of public places, and interviews and focus groups with their support workers, the paper points to some of the critical judgements support workers need to make when considering whether, when and how to initiate or intervene in such encounters. (Publisher abstract)
Identifying conceptualizations and theories of change embedded in interventions to facilitate community participation for people with intellectual disability: a scoping review
- Authors:
- BIGBY Christine, ANDERSON Sian, CAMERON Nadine
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 31(2), 2018, pp.165-180.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Background: Little progress has been made towards community participation of people with intellectual disability despite it being a policy aim since the 1980s. We aimed to identify the features of programmes designed to support community participation. Method: A scoping review was conducted of peer-reviewed literature between 2000 and 2015, about interventions to support community participation for adults with intellectual disability. Results: A small body of evidence relates to the design and effectiveness of interventions to enhance community participation. Seventeen studies reported programmes reflecting three conceptualisations of community participation (as social relationships, as convivial encounter and as belonging) that used strategies such as active mentoring, facilitative support worker practice and arts-based programmes. Conclusions: Studies showed the diverse and person-centred nature of community participation and demonstrated the need for larger-scale studies of promising interventions that include details of costs, and strategies to guide implementation of policies to support community participation. (Edited publisher abstract)
Social work practice and intellectual disability
- Authors:
- BIGBY Christine, FRAWLEY Patsie
- Publisher:
- Palgrave Macmillan
- Publication year:
- 2010
- Pagination:
- 238p., bibliog.
- Place of publication:
- Basingstoke
Provides an understanding of the knowledge, values and skills required for effective practice in the field of learning disability and the opportunity for multidisciplinary collaboration for social change. The book focuses on adults with learning disabilities and their families. Topics include: the changing definitions of learning disability; theory and practice of working with adults with learning disabilities and their families; assessment, planning, monitoring and review; social inclusion and participation. Includes numerous case studies and discussion points.
Facilitating transition: elements of successful case management practice for older parents of adults with intellectual disability
- Authors:
- BIGBY Christine, OZANNE Elizabeth, GORDON Meg
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Gerontological Social Work, 37(3/4), 2002, pp.24-43.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
The increased life expectancy of people with intellectual disability raises the dual issues of supporting aging parental carers to continue in their role and ensuring a smooth transition for middle-aged adults with intellectual disability to non-parental care. However, few services are specifically designed to respond to these issues and older carers are not generally dissagregated from other groups. This paper reports on an evaluation that examined the characteristics of these families, the outcomes for carers and adults, and the strategies adopted to achieve these. The elements of successful case management practice with older carers demonstrated in the programs were proactivity and prevention with a dual emphasis on maintenance and change for both the carer and their adult child with intellectual disability. Demands on carers were reduced by the introduction of formal services such as “recreation as respite” whilst the environmental demands for adults were increased, thus effecting change and providing vital ingredients for preparation for the future.