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Policy development and implementation for disability services in rural New South Wales, Australia
- Authors:
- DEW Angela, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Policy and Practice in Intellectual Disabilities, 11(3), 2014, pp.200-209.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Throughout their lives, all people, including those who have a disability, use a broad range of community services. Community services are important in assisting people with a range of impairments to participate in their communities. Vast geographic distances and a lack of therapists in rural and remote regions of Australia pose significant barriers for implementing policy aimed at supporting people with a disability. The aim of this study was to investigate the extent to which metropolitan-formulated policy encompassed the unique geographic, demographic, and sociocultural challenges experienced by rural therapists and people with a disability in New South Wales (NSW). Twenty-seven policy documents were reviewed and categorised into tier 1 (higher level strategic policies) and tier 2 (specific operational policies). Tier 1 policy documents provided consistent messages about the need to develop strategies and service delivery options to address geographic, cultural, and age-related barriers facing all people in NSW including those who have a disability. Tier 2 documents revealed a lack of attention to the practical differences between implementing the policy principles in metropolitan compared with rural areas. Study findings identify that the implementation of metropolitan-formulated policy does not always encompass the unique challenges experienced by therapists providing services to rural people with a disability and their carers. This study highlights the importance of “rural proofing” policy to consider people who live and work in rural areas. (Edited publisher abstract)
Disconnected expectations: staff, family, and supported employee perspectives about retirement
- Authors:
- BIGBY Christine, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disability, 36(3), September 2011, pp.167-174.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
This paper reports the first stage of a study that aims to understand how older people with intellectual disabilities who retire from supported employment can be supported to participate in mainstream community organisations. In particular, it explores the perceptions and expectations about activities and participation held by older supported employees, family members, staff in disability services, and participants in mainstream community organisations for older people. Six focus groups to discuss retirement were held comprising 5 distinct participant groups: 7 staff from disability accommodation; 7 staff from employment services; 4 members of mainstream activity programmes for older people; 5 family members; and 2 groups of 6 supported employees. The findings showed that the participants perceived retirement as a risk to the well-being and participation of employees. They were pessimistic about the availability of necessary support in retirement. The need for additional resources and skills was identified. However, the utility of inclusion strategies was not recognised, and continued segregation through specialist programmes or adaptation of existing employment programmes was the most commonly suggested retirement option by staff and family members. The article concludes that the perceptions of the participants does not reflect the current policy imperatives of social participation.
Provision of residential services for people with intellectual disability in Australia: an international comparison
- Author:
- STANCLIFFE Roger J.
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disability, 27(2), June 2002, pp.117-124.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
National data on the provision of services to Australians with a disability under the Commonwealth/State Disability Agreement (CSDA) have been gathered since 1995 using the Minimum Data Set (MDS). This paper analyses MDS data on residential services for people with intellectual disability between 1995 and 1999. Trends include: a steady growth in the number of recipients of CSDA-funded residential services; a slow decline in the proportion of people housed in large residentials; a gradual increase in the number of people served in community group homes; and a more rapid growth in outreach/drop-in services such as semi-independent living. Makes comparisons with the USA and United Kingdom and concludes that Australia needs to increase the provision of residential services to people with intellectual disability.
Deinstitutionalisation of persons with intellectual disabilities: a review of Australian studies
- Authors:
- YOUNG Louise, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disability, 23(2), June 1998, pp.155-170.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
Provides a quantitative review of Australian studies on deinstitutionalisation and community of living persons with intellectual disabilities. Thirteen studies from eight separate projects were identified from a comprehensive literature search. Results found community-based placements were associated with increased adaptive behaviour, greater community participation, and improved contact with family and friends. There was little or no change in problem behaviour, health, or mortality. The results are consistent with similar reviews from studies conducted in the USA and UK support the development of community-based services for persons with intellectual disability.
“… but if you're afraid of things, how are you meant to belong?” What belonging means to people with intellectual disabilities?
- Authors:
- STRNADOV Iva, JOHNSON Kelley, WALMSLEY Jan
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 31(6), 2018, pp.1091-1102.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Background: A policy commitment to social inclusion has brought about some positive changes in the lives of people with intellectual disabilities; yet many also continue to experience social isolation, poverty and abuse. The authors introduce a framework for belonging from the literature and then present a study exploring the views of people with intellectual disabilities about belonging. These are discussed in relation to the framework identified from the literature. Method: Three focus groups with 24 participants with intellectual disabilities were conducted in New South Wales and Victoria (Australia). The authors used inductive content analysis to identify four meanings of belonging: (i) belonging in relation to place, (ii) as being part of a community, (iii) as having relationships and (iv) as identity. Also discussed are commonly experienced barriers to belonging identified by participants. Conclusions: Implications for policy, service provision and practice are discussed. (Publisher abstract)
Mentors' experiences of using the Active Mentoring model to support older adults with intellectual disability to participate in community groups
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disability, 38(4), 2013, pp.344-355.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
Background: Social inclusion is a widely acknowledged goal; who is best positioned to provide support and how support is delivered are key questions. Using Active Mentoring training, members of community groups mentored a person with intellectual disability and supported their inclusion in that group. Methods: Interviews with 14 mentors explored their experiences of supporting a previously unknown person with intellectual disability to participate in their community group. Findings: The core theme was No Different From Us. Mentors saw beyond the disability, they valued others, were community leaders, and had intrinsic qualities. With some basic orientation to the task, mentors were able to support the inclusion of their mentee in the group. Conclusion: Community members are willing to support people with intellectual disability to join their community groups. The Active Mentoring training is one way of harnessing the goodwill of community groups and their members to include people with intellectual disability to participate on an individual basis in community groups. (Publisher abstract)
Keeping it in the family: caregiving in Australian-Greek families
- Authors:
- MORSE Carol A., MESSERMERI-KIANIDIS Voula
- Journal article citation:
- Social Work in Health Care, 34(3/4), 2001, pp.299-314.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
Family-based caregiving refers to the daily provision of help to a co-resident family relative with the usual activities of daily living, custody and protection of a dependent relative at risk of self-injury, and support of a person with physical, developmental and/or mental disability or frailty due to ageing. Many reports from western studies refer to the caregiving burdens, stress and strains. A common view of migrant peoples is that they 'look after their own' to a greater extent than do English-speaking groups. A study was carried out with 300 Australian-Greek families in Melbourne where 150 were providing family-based caregiving, and these were age and gender matched with friends or acquaintances who had no such duties. Most care was provided by women. A wide range of disabilities and illnesses were receiving help and care in the caregiving families among care recipients aged from childhood to advanced old age. Distinct evidence of caregiving burden was found to a significant degree. Gender differences were apparent in the type of disorders managed, in the perceived severity of caregiving duties provided and in the total range of activities engaged in. The ethno-specific community organisations and extended family networks played little part in providing assistance to caregivers which challenges the myths of a close-knit migrant community looking after its own.
Neighbourhood and community experience, and the quality of life of rural adolescents with and without an intellectual disability
- Authors:
- PRETTY Grace, RAPLEY Mark, BRAMSTON Paul
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disability, 27(2), June 2002, pp.106-116.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
Community integration has long been acknowledged as a foundational goal of community-based care for young people with an intellectual disability. This study reports a comparative analysis of awareness and usage of community facilities; lifestyle habits such as shopping, leisure and sport participation; perceptions of neighbourhood environments and subjective quality of life of matched groups of adolescents in rural Australia, with and without a mild intellectual disability. The results identify community usage and lifestyle patterns typical of adolescents in rural towns, with no significant differences noted on any measure between those with and those without an intellectual disability. The discussion promotes the inclusion of community factors such as sense of belonging to, and experiences in, one"s "ordinary community" when investigating community integration of adolescents with a disability.
Quality of life in a community-based service in rural Australia
- Authors:
- RAPLEY Mark, HOPGOOD Laura
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disability, 22(2), June 1997, pp.125-141.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
This article examines a community-based service, accommodating thirty-four people with intellectual disabilities in a regional Australian city and small rural town, using both established measures of service quality also novel measurers of service users' quality of life (QQL) and sense of community. Results indicate significant variation in the quality of service provision in a context of restricted scope for domestic participation, little autonomy, and impoverished community membership. It appears that the reality of service outcomes for individuals with intellectual disabilities here is in some tension with the rhetorical commitments of community-based service providers.