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‘It's only right that we get involved’: service-user perspectives on involvement in learning disability services
- Authors:
- HOOLE Lucy, MORGAN Sally
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Learning Disabilities, 39(1), March 2011, pp.5-10.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Promotion of service-user and carer involvement is part of the mainstream policy agenda in health and social care. Much effort has been invested into involving people with learning disabilities in decisions regarding aspects of their lives through advocacy projects and the utilisation of person-centred planning approaches. However, people with learning disabilities continue to be a group of people who are the `most excluded, least independent and most likely to lack control in everyday life'. This article describes a focus group that was conducted to explore the lived experiences of people with learning disabilities as users of services. Thematic analysis revealed three key themes: feelings of unfairness and inequality; experiences of inclusion and power; and future visions. Implications for practice are discussed. Overall, the focus group participants sought greater equality in the decision-making process that affected their everyday lives, breaking down the barriers to meaningful involvement in service development.
The history of self-advocacy in Wales
- Authors:
- BOXALL Yvon, KUROWSKI Katrina
- Journal article citation:
- Llais, 100, Autumn 2011, pp.30-33.
- Publisher:
- Learning Disability Wales
People with learning disabilities often have little chance to express their basic rights. Self-advocacy has made people more aware of equality and the right to community life. Since the early days of the All Wales Strategy (AWS), most self-advocacy was being developed through day services, and was supported by day service staff. Self-advocacy groups focused on people speaking up for themselves to make choices or decisions. This article charts the development of self-advocacy since the launch of the AWS. It describes recent developments such as Individual Planning which was used as to promote the idea that people need to be at the centre of any decisions that affect their lives and lifestyle, and Participation which was also used as a building block in the early days. The article then discusses the development of People First in Wales and how it has contributed to ‘choice and control’, ‘community’ and ‘change’.
The case of the missing advocate
- Authors:
- HOLMAN Andrew, ASPIS Simone
- Journal article citation:
- Viewpoint, 26, March 1998, p.10.
- Publisher:
- Mencap/Gateway
Discusses the Lord Chancellor's consultation paper Who Decides?, Making Decisions on Behalf of Mentally Incapacitated Adults. The authors challenge the view that other people always know best.
Independent living: planning ahead
- Author:
- SANDERSON Helen
- Journal article citation:
- Community Care, 29.2.96, 1996, pp.6-7.
- Publisher:
- Reed Business Information
The author discusses changes in approach amongst staff making plans for people with learning difficulties.
We have human rights: a human rights handbook for people with developmental disabilities
- Authors:
- HESLA Bret, KENNEDY Mary Kay
- Publisher:
- Harvard Law School Project on Disability
- Publication year:
- 2008
- Pagination:
- 28p.
- Place of publication:
- Cambridge, MA
This booklet aims to help people with developmental disabilities to learn about their rights and to talk with others about their rights. The booklet is in two sections, 'Your rights' and 'Building skills together'. Your rights covers aspects of human rights including: equality; safety; home and family; privacy; independent living; work; education; health; access; political life; new attitudes; culture and sports. Building skills together contains two exercises. The first, 'I want to live like this!' is about living independently in the community and deciding how you want to live. The second, 'Speak up with power' is about how to be assertive.
Consultation: plan of action or management exercise?
- Authors:
- TOWNSON Louise, CHAPMAN Ross
- Journal article citation:
- Community Living, 12(4), April 1999, pp.16-17.
- Publisher:
- Hexagon Publishing
Consultation is one of the 'four Cs' of the government's Best Value initiative. The authors argue that consultation in its own right is not enough, and that people should be involved on committees right through to the top if a real change is to take place.
Partners in Advocacy: enabling the participation of children with special needs through citizen advocacy
- Author:
- ARTHURS Marjorie
- Publisher:
- Children in Scotland
- Publication year:
- 1998
- Pagination:
- 18p.
- Place of publication:
- Edinburgh
Partners in Advocacy has been linking of children with special needs and learning difficulties with citizen advocates since 1987. The experience of citizen advocates suggests that children no matter the degree of their special needs can in some way contribute to the decisions that affect their lives.
Inclusion and autonomy for people with multiple and complex learning difficulties
- Authors:
- MERRILL Kirsten, BOYCE Peter
- Journal article citation:
- Applied Community Studies, 3(1), 1996, pp.77-91.
- Publisher:
- Whiting and Birch
For people such as those with severe learning difficulties who have had little or no involvement in decision making over their futures, learning to make decisions inevitably requires the time and resources afforded them by more able others. The Advocacy Movement has been hugely influential, though there is still a need for change in societal attitudes. This paper attempts to address issues relating to successful integration such as the availability of resources, ethical implications and the tension that can arise between the service users and professionals.