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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.
Beset by obstacles: a review of Australian policy development to support ageing in place for people with intellectual disability
- Author:
- BIGBY Christine
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disability, 33(1), March 2008, pp.76-86.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
Australian government policy regards people with intellectual disability (ID) as citizens with equal rights, which means that they should have access to the same opportunities as the wider community. Ageing in place is central to aged care policy in Australia for the general population. This paper reviews policy to support the provision of similar opportunities to age in place for people with ID, and the reasons for its slow development. Due to lifestyle patterns earlier in the life course, many people with ID experience a mid-life disruption to their accommodation, and may live in a group home as they age or may move prematurely to residential aged care. The absence of mechanisms to adjust disability funding as needs change, and the existence of policy that denies residents in group homes access to community-based aged care, forces disability services to “go it alone” to support ageing in place. Despite a national priority to improve the interface between the disability and aged care sectors, administrative and funding characteristics continue to obstruct the development of implementation strategies to support ageing in place for people with ID, which remain at the stage of an exploration of the issues.
Inclusive research: making a difference to policy and legislation
- Authors:
- JOHNSON Kelley, MINOGUE Gerard, HOPKLINS Rob
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 27(1), 2013, pp.76-84.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
While inclusive research has become an important stream in research with people with intellectual disabilities, there is a tension between the possibly empowering research process and the strength of the research itself to make social change happen. This paper explores the contribution of two inclusive qualitative research studies in Australia and the Republic of Ireland to change in policy and legislation. Both studies used qualitative methods including life stories and focus groups to explore the issue of sexuality and relationships. In both studies, people with intellectual disabilities were actively involved in undertaking the research. Both studies revealed that it was difficult for people with intellectual disabilities to express their sexuality openly or to form adult relationships. Both studies were used by people with intellectual disabilities and their supporters to promote change in which they had a heard voice. (Publisher abstract)
Ageing people with a lifelong disability: challenges for the aged care and disability sectors
- Author:
- BIGBY Christine
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disability, 27(4), December 2002, pp.231-241.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
This article compares and contrasts Australian policy directions in aged care and disability. Using people with intellectual disability as an exemplar of those who are ageing with a lifelong disability, the paper analyses their location within and the services offered to them by each sector. The paper argues that neither sector adequately addresses the issues raised by the needs of this group and suggests why this is so. Directions for policy and service developments necessary to ensure that the needs of this growing population are met are suggested. These are broadly categorised as; systematically bridging existing gaps with specialist services; supporting inclusion and ensuring older people with lifelong disability are visible within the aged care system; adapting and resourcing the disability sector to facilitate ageing in place; and developing partnerships and joint planning aimed at the removal of cross- and intra-sector obstacles to accessing appropriate services.
Meeting the housing needs of people with intellectual disabilities: AHURI research and policy bulletin
- Authors:
- BOSTOCK Lisa, et al
- Publisher:
- Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute
- Publication year:
- 2001
- Pagination:
- 4p.
- Place of publication:
- Melbourne, VIC
This Australian report aimed to predict the effect on the housing market of the deinstitutionalisation of institutions for intellectually disabled people. It also aimed to assess how effectively and appropriately the housing needs of people with intellectual disabilities were being met in the community