The aims of this research were: to establish the level of advocacy provision for people with physical, sensory, communication and profound and multiple impairments; to make recommendations to Government, policy-makers and others on how to ensure that people with sensory, physical, communication and profound and multiple impairments are able to access appropriate independent advocacy provision; to identify what support and resources current advocacy providers would require to develop their schemes to include people with physical, sensory, communication and profound and multiple impairments; to establish whether local authorities have a local advocacy plan and whether advocacy providers feel this would be beneficial in their area The main findings from the research also included the following.. Many disabled people with physical, sensory, communication and profound and multiple impairments would benefit from the support of an independent advocate.. There is inadequate independent advocacy provision, especially for people with physical, sensory, communication and profound and multiple impairments. The main causes of lack of independent advocacy provision are funding issues and a lack of skills and experience around working with these groups of people. The types of independent advocacy undertaken by advocacy schemes may not always meet the needs of these groups of people. Finally, there is very little evidence of advocacy plans at a local level, but overwhelming support for their development among advocacy schemes.
The aims of this research were: to establish the level of advocacy provision for people with physical, sensory, communication and profound and multiple impairments; to make recommendations to Government, policy-makers and others on how to ensure that people with sensory, physical, communication and profound and multiple impairments are able to access appropriate independent advocacy provision; to identify what support and resources current advocacy providers would require to develop their schemes to include people with physical, sensory, communication and profound and multiple impairments; to establish whether local authorities have a local advocacy plan and whether advocacy providers feel this would be beneficial in their area The main findings from the research also included the following.. Many disabled people with physical, sensory, communication and profound and multiple impairments would benefit from the support of an independent advocate.. There is inadequate independent advocacy provision, especially for people with physical, sensory, communication and profound and multiple impairments. The main causes of lack of independent advocacy provision are funding issues and a lack of skills and experience around working with these groups of people. The types of independent advocacy undertaken by advocacy schemes may not always meet the needs of these groups of people. Finally, there is very little evidence of advocacy plans at a local level, but overwhelming support for their development among advocacy schemes.