Search results for ‘Subject term:"learning disabilities"’ Sort:
Results 1 - 2 of 2
Workforce development for people with intellectual disabilities: the perspective from people with intellectual disabilities
- Authors:
- DAVIES Jill, BURKE Christine
- Publishers:
- Foundation for People with Learning Disabilities, Health Education England
- Publication year:
- 2016
- Pagination:
- 30
- Place of publication:
- London
Reports on the results of a consultation with people with a learning disability from across Kent, Surrey and Sussex, to investigate what was important to them in order to lead a good life and also the qualities it was important for their workforce to have. The research spoke to 65 people with learning disabilities and five parents (who completed the questionnaires on behalf of their sons/daughters with more complex needs), and received 61 completed questionnaires. The report presents results of the analysis of skills by six different age groups: 12-24 years; 25-34 years; 35-44 years; 45-54 years; 55-64 years; and 65 years and over. People with learning disabilities and parents we spoke to were very keen for people to learn a range of practical skills to lead as independent a life as possible. They also wanted to be supported by practitioners who could: provide them with health advice; help them in maintaining relationships; and help them access leisure activities and services in the community. Some of the most important workforce qualities identified were to be listened to, be patient, have a happy and positive attitude, be given a voice, and be reliable and punctual. People from the focus groups believed that having the support from someone with those qualities made a huge difference to their lives. The report recommends that all curricula for the workforce have values based on the social model of disability and involve people with learning disabilities to make this possible. (Edited publisher abstract)
What kind of a future? Workshops for young people at the transition to adulthood
- Authors:
- DAVIES Jill, BURKE Christine
- Journal article citation:
- Llais, 95, Spring 2010, pp.10-12.
- Publisher:
- Learning Disability Wales
A previous article described a project run by the Foundation for People with Learning Disabilities called “What kind of a future?” which addressed innovative approaches to transition. The second phase of the project is described here. This involved a series of workshops for young people and their families, held in Cardiff, Derby and the London Borough of Newham. This article focuses on the workshops held in Cardiff which were attended by 7 young people with learning disabilities aged between 14 and 27 years and members of their family. A total of four workshops were held in each region. The first explored person centred planning. In Cardiff the other workshops focused on work and supported employment, self-advocacy and financial support, and health and housing. In all the workshops local professionals were invited to talk about their organisations and self-advocates shared their experiences, thus helping families to make links at a local level. The results of questionnaires used at the start and end of the workshops indicated that there was a small increase in the number of activities and social contacts by the participants. There was also an increase in the number of professionals involved in their lives. Feedback from families indicated that they had a greater awareness of local services and their aspirations around their child entering the workplace had increased. The authors conclude that this model was far more useful than just the use of written information with no follow-up.