Search results for ‘Subject term:"learning disabilities"’ Sort:
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Inclusion in political and public life: the experiences of people with intellectual disability on government disability advisory bodies in Australia
- Authors:
- FRAWLEY Patsie, BIGBY Christine
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disability, 36(1), March 2011, pp.27-38.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
In the last decade, Australian governments have used disability advisory bodies as a means to canvass the views of people with disability and involve them in the process of policy making. This study explored the political orientations that members with an intellectual disability bring to disability advisory bodies and their experience of participating, in order to consider the types of support necessary to facilitate their participation. The 9 main participants were the only people with an intellectual disability who were members of disability advisory bodies in Australia in 2005. 2 or more in-depth interviews were conducted with each of them. 12 people associated with the participants' membership of the advisory body, including support workers and other members, were also interviewed. 3 political orientations were identified: democratic orientation (participation as a right), professional orientation (participation as a status symbol) and communitarian orientation (participation as the role of a community member). The participants found the work hard but rewarding, encountered both practical and intangible obstacles to participation, and received varying types of support. The article discusses the findings, with examples from the interviews, including experiences of participation, challenges and types of participation support.
A tale of two white papers: policy documents as indicators of trends in UK services
- Author:
- RACE David G.
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Intellectual Disabilities, 11(1), March 2007, pp.83-103.
- Publisher:
- Sage
- Place of publication:
- London
Cross-cultural differences in governance and policies for learning disability services are of interest. This article focuses on two UK government policy documents issued in 1971 (Better Services)and 2001 (Valuing People).Their context, creation, principles, proposals and proposed implementation are examined, and lessons are drawn for an international audience as to the changing nature of services in the UK. The analysis reveals a move from a detailed and prescriptive policy in 1971, largely defined by professionals and bureaucrats, and aimed primarily at families with a disabled member, to statements of broad principles in 2001, devised in consultation with and aimed at a range of groups, including disabled people themselves. The article acknowledges progress in individual rights and choices for people with learning disabilities, but raises doubts about how significant this is in achieving a qualitative improvement in their lives. Some of these doubts relate to the governance process itself.
Some victims less equal than others
- Author:
- HIGGINS Kate
- Journal article citation:
- SCOLAG Journal, 346, August 2006, pp.162-163.
- Publisher:
- ScoLAG(Scottish Legal Action Group)
The author, from Capability Scotland, discusses the failure of the Scottish Executive to include hate crime in the Sentencing Bill and how it effects the equal treatment of victims.
Valuing people: a new strategy for learning disability for the 21st century: white paper summary
- Author:
- MENCAP
- Publisher:
- Mencap
- Publication year:
- 2001
- Pagination:
- 4p.
- Place of publication:
- London
The White Paper sets out how the Government will provide new opportunities for people with a learning disability, their families and carers. It is underpinned by four key principles: Legal and civil rights, people with learning disabilities have the right to a decent education, to grow up to vote, to marry and have a family, to express opinions, with help and support where necessary; Independence the starting presumption should be independence, rather than dependence, with public services providing the support needed to maximise this. Choice - people with learning disabilities want a real say in where they live, what work they should do and who looks after them; inclusion - enabling people with learning disabilities to do those ordinary things, make use of mainstream services and be fully included in local communities.
Under scrutiny
- Author:
- TICKNER Marilyn
- Journal article citation:
- Professional Social Work, February 2001, p.7.
- Publisher:
- British Association of Social Workers
Evaluates the Mental Health Act White Paper in terms of its benefits to adults with learning difficulties.
Voting and the Scottish referendum: perspectives of people with intellectual disabilities and their family and paid carers
- Authors:
- WILLIS Diane S., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Disability and Society, 31(7), 2016, pp.914-928.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
Voting is a human right for every citizen yet many people with intellectual disabilities do not vote or have little support to exercise their right to vote. This article explores views on the wider aspects of voting against the backdrop of the Scottish referendum using focus groups involving people with intellectual disabilities (n = 12), family carers (n = 7) and paid carers (n = 5). Findings revealed that people with intellectual disabilities had similar concerns to the general population about the referendum. Regarding voting, all groups identified the need to discuss issues and for practical support and accessible information to ensure informed choices were made when voting. (Publisher abstract)
Statement on policy and practice for adults with a learning disability
- Author:
- WALES. Welsh Assembly Government
- Publisher:
- Wales. Welsh Assembly Government
- Publication year:
- 2007
- Pagination:
- 46p.
- Place of publication:
- Cardiff
This Statement on Policy and Practice provides a vision for the future in which all people with a learning disability are full citizens, equal in status and value to other citizens of the same age. Disabled people have the same rights as other citizens to live healthy, productive and independent lives with appropriate and responsive treatment and support to develop their maximum potential. They also have equal rights to be individuals and decide everyday issues and life-defining matters for themselves joining in all decision-making which affects their lives, with appropriate and responsive advice and support where necessary. This Statement will help make it possible for people with learning disabilities to live their lives within their community, maintaining the social and family ties and connections which are important to them. This document includes sections on: the purpose and the vision of the Statement; the definition and the rate of occurrence of learning disability; the context and scope of the Statement; person-centred planning, accessible information and advocacy; community living, employment and day services; complex health needs; challenging behaviour; families and carers; strategic planning; joint working; and workforce planning.
Policy implementation in England: developments to meet the mental health needs of people with learning disabilities
- Authors:
- CHAPLIN Eddie, O'HARA Jean
- Journal article citation:
- Advances in Mental Health and Learning Disabilities, 1(1), March 2007, pp.7-12.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
This article looks at current initiatives to improve mental health care for people with learning disabilities from around England and places them within a policy context. It highlights the areas that still fail to provide a basic care standard, some of which have been reported throughout the media from recent investigations. Where this is the case, the authors outline the response and actions that have been put in place to address these issues. The article focuses on the areas of 'rights', 'inclusion', 'choice' and 'independence'. They argue that there now needs to be cooperation between services that traditionally have not worked together for the benefit of this client group. The traditional views and values of service provides and commissioners will need to be challenged and tuned to the needs of this group of people.
An analysis of key principles in valuing people: implications for supporting people with dementia
- Author:
- FORBAT Liz
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Intellectual Disabilities, 10(3), September 2006, pp.249-260.
- Publisher:
- Sage
- Place of publication:
- London
This article reports an analysis of practitioner and policy implementers' views on implementing the strategy document Valuing People. It is based on empirical data generated from the first phase of a research project that seeks to develop best practice in supporting people with an intellectual disability and dementia. The analysis focuses on how Valuing People's four key principles (choice, independence, rights and inclusion) were drawn on and talked about spontaneously by participants. Each of these four principles has important implications for the provision of services for people with intellectual disabilities and dementia. This article adds to the growing dialogue on service provision for this group.
Reforming the Mental Health Act
- Authors:
- LAING Judith, GARRATT Katherine
- Publisher:
- Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons Library
- Publication year:
- 2022
- Pagination:
- 40
- Place of publication:
- London
This paper discusses the Government's White Paper on Reforming the Mental Health Act 1983, a summary of consultation responses and the Draft Mental Health Bill 2022. The Government's white paper on Reforming the Mental Health Act, published on 13 January 2021, contains wide-ranging proposals to reform the Mental Health Act 1983 (as amended in 2007) in England and Wales. This briefing outlines the background to the reforms, some of the main proposals in the white paper and initial reactions. It also outlines the Government's response to a consultation on the white paper proposals details of the draft Mental Health Bill, published in June 2022 and initial reactions to the Bill. The white paper includes a range of proposals to reform the Act as well as to bring about improvements in policy, practice, and service delivery. The overall aim is to bring the law in line with modern mental health care and ensure that patients are involved more closely in decisions about their care and treatment. The draft Bill contains a number of amendments to the Mental Health Act 1983 which would bring in the following changes: autism and learning disability would not be considered to be conditions for which a person could be subject to compulsory treatment under section 3; changes to the criteria for detention by setting out two new tests with a higher risk threshold; a new definition of "appropriate medical treatment" to require that the treatment must have a reasonable prospect of alleviating, or preventing the worsening of, the patient's mental disorder. (Edited publisher abstract)