Search results for ‘Subject term:"learning disabilities"’ Sort:
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"Is it Saturday?": a play and recreational programme for children and young people with moderate learning difficulties
- Authors:
- KILPATRICK Rosemary, MCCLINTON Janet
- Publisher:
- Queen's University Belfast. Institute of Child Care Research
- Publication year:
- 2004
- Pagination:
- 44p., bibliog.
- Place of publication:
- Belfast
A group of eleven children aged 8-12 years were involved in the project, all of whom attended a special school for children with moderate learning difficulties in Belfast. Needs were identified by means of focus groups and one-to-one interviews with the children and their parents. On the basis of this information a programme for 'Is it Saturday?' was developed in collaboration with voluntary agencies and professionals willing to have an input to the project, which took place over a ten week period between September and December 1998. A group of twelve volunteers were trained and nine of this group worked with the project worker in delivering the programme. Five years after the programme had been introduced the young people, who were now reaching school-leaving age, were invited to a review session to explore what play and recreational facilities were available to them at this stage in their lives. An independent researcher conducted the evaluation of the project by means of focus groups and/or questionnaires with the project worker, the parents, the children, the volunteers and the teachers in the school.
The perceived impact of caring for animals on adults with a learning disability. An exploratory study.
- Authors:
- FALLON Gene, KILGALLON Eilish
- Publisher:
- Southern Health and Social Care Trust
- Publication year:
- 2017
- Pagination:
- 165
- Place of publication:
- Portadown
This pilot research study explored the perceived impact of caring for animals in a non-domestic setting upon adults with a learning disability. A total of 18 adults with a learning disability took part in the study and helped care for animals at an existing day-opportunities centre which was a partnership arrangement between the Southern Health and Social Care Trust and the Ulster Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (USPCA). Interviews were conducted with the adults participating in the study, their carers and the staff who oversaw the adults as they cared for the animals over a period of 20 weeks. The data were collected from individual interviews conducted on a before and after basis. The findings suggest that caring for animals in a non-domestic setting was perceived to have had a positive and beneficial effect upon the adults who took part in the study. Participants themselves, through their own words and those of their carers and staff, were reported to have experienced increases in self-confidence, independence and patience coupled with improved social skills. In addition to learning new and potentially transferrable skills, participants were also reported to have demonstrated positive interaction with animals and other participants, as well as indicating evidence of personal development and improved emotional well-being. This small study identifies perceptions of favourable effects on adults with a learning disability involved in caring for animals. It calls for further research to fully understand the impact of caring for animals on adults with a learning disability. (Edited publisher abstract)
An evaluation of a family-centred support service for children with a significant learning disability
- Authors:
- TRUESDALE-KENNEDY Maria, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Child Care in Practice, 12(4), October 2006, pp.377-390.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
Services for families caring for a child with a learning disability are changing to become more family-centred, focusing not only on the child's needs but on those of the whole family. This article reports on the evaluation of a newly developed Families Project in one Health and Social Service Trust area in Northern Ireland. The evaluation aimed to identify the impact on parents and ways in which it could become more effective. Families participating in the project (n=19) were contrasted with two other groups of parents recruited form the same Health and Social Services Trust (n=25) and from an area served by a different Health and Social Services Trust (n-25). Participant parents spoke highly of the project and reported benefits to their child, to themselves and to other children in the family. In comparison with the other two groups they had higher scores on a measure of family functioning and reported greater levels of support. However, there were no improvements on measures of parental health and stress. Person-centred planning was welcomed by most, but not all, families.
Identifying the need for respite care for people with learning disabilities in Northern Ireland
- Author:
- SINES D.
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Learning Disabilities for Nursing Health and Social Care, 3(2), June 1999, pp.81-91.
Describes the methods employed to investigate the range and models of respite care services provided for people with learning disabilities and their carers in Northern Ireland. Carers were surveyed to determine their perceptions and levels of satisfaction regarding the range of services provided for them. In addition, local respite care services were examined and interviews conducted with commissioners, providers and professional support staff to assess the perceptions of individuals involved in the planning, commissioning and providing of respite care services. The study confirmed that regional variations existed throughout the province and that the current range of services often failed to meet the significant and often complex needs of users. Whilst the study was conducted in Northern Ireland it is considered that many of the findings will be equally applicable to elsewhere in the UK and the Republic of Ireland.
Training in joint investigation of alleged crimes against people with learning disabilities in Northern Ireland
- Author:
- PENHALE Bridget
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Adult Protection, 4(2), May 2002, pp.21-27.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
Reports on the evaluation of a training event conducted by the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) and the Homefirst Community Trust. Participants' attitudes were measured prior to and following the training, which was designed to increase awareness of the knowledge and skills necessary for effective joint investigations of alleged crimes against vulnerable adults.
Opening new doors: an evaluation of community care for people discharged from psychiatric and mental handicap hospitals
- Authors:
- DONNELLY Michael, et al
- Publisher:
- HMSO
- Publication year:
- 1994
- Pagination:
- 437p.,tables,bibliog.
- Place of publication:
- London
Study evaluating community care services for people with learning difficulties or mental health problems discharged from long-stay hospitals in Northern Ireland. Looks at implementation and the efficiency and effectiveness of the implementation process and evaluates the arrangements in terms of their impact on the quality of life of the users.