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The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities: implementing a paradigm shift
- Author:
- MITTLER Peter
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Policy and Practice in Intellectual Disabilities, 12(2), 2015, pp.79-89.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Implementation of the United Nations' (UN) Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), together with the new UN commitment to ensure the inclusion of people with disabilities in the post-2015 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), should now be considered an overarching priority by organisations and individuals committed to improving the quality of life of people with disabilities. The CRPD is not merely the latest in a long line of UN declarations, but a potential catalyst for a radical reappraisal of policy and practice among governments and organizations of persons with disabilities (disabled persons organisations (DPOs)) and by service planners and providers, members of professional and voluntary organisations, the research community, and by society at large. The 152 governments that have ratified the CRPD have entered into a commitment in international law to submit detailed reports to the CRPD Committee of the UN human rights commission. Although some DPOs have made good use of their right of access to this Committee, there is cause of concern about resources available to others. The Committee's criticisms of the nature and quality of government implementation highlight the need for sustained and informed advocacy by civil society and the use of the Internet and social media to raise public awareness about the potential of the CRPD to benefit people with disabilities. The author posits that lack of data on persons with disabilities in many countries now presents the most serious obstacle to accountability and monitoring. It is suggested that scientific and professional bodies need to work more earnestly in partnership with DPOs in a combined effort to make a reality of the Convention and the emerging SDGs in a new dynamic of “research to practice.” (Edited publisher abstract)
Bringing the UN Convention on rights for persons with disabilities to life in Ireland
- Author:
- QUINN Gerard
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Learning Disabilities, 37(4), December 2009, pp.245-249.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
This article, through providing an account of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, describes why the Convention is important in asserting and safeguarding the rights of persons with disabilities. Outlining its core values – dignity, individual autonomy, non-discrimination, full and active participation and inclusion, respect for difference, equality of opportunity, accessibility, gender equality, and respect for children with disabilities – the author explores the nature of rights in the Convention as applicable within Ireland, which has yet to ratify the treaty, with an account of the Convention as a blueprint for reference and research. The importance of ratification of the Convention is emphasised.
Deciding for ourselves
- Author:
- ASPIS Simone
- Journal article citation:
- Professional Social Work, March 2004, pp.14-15.
- Publisher:
- British Association of Social Workers
The author, a member of People First, explains why people with learning disabilities are campaigning against the Mental Incapacity Bill.
'Who decides?'
- Author:
- HOLMAN Andrew
- Journal article citation:
- Community Living, 13(3), January 2000, pp.18-19.
- Publisher:
- Hexagon Publishing
The Lord Chancellor's Department has now produced 'Making Decisions', a policy statement outlining the Government's proposals for making decisions on behalf of mentally incapacitated adults and its response to 'Who Decides?', the consultation paper published in 1997. The author takes a critical look at the document.
The keys to life: unlocking futures for people with learning disabilities: implementation framework and priorities 2019-2021
- Author:
- SCOTLAND. Scottish Government
- Publisher:
- Scotland. Scottish Government
- Publication year:
- 2019
- Pagination:
- 35
- Place of publication:
- Edinburgh
A framework to implement the 'Keys to life' learning disability strategy in Scotland. The priorities for delivery are guided by four rights-based outcomes: a healthier life; choice and control; independence; and active citizenship and participation in community and society. The framework sets out plans to raise the profile of employing people with a learning disability, as well as improving experiences in school and improving the transition from school to further education or employment. It also covers healthy relationships and the right to become a parent. The framework was created in partnership with the Scottish Commission on Learning Disabilities (SCLD) and the Scottish Learning Disabilities Observatory. (Edited publisher abstract)
No Longer Researching About Us Without Us: a researcher's reflection on rights and inclusive research in Ireland
- Author:
- JOHNSON Kelley
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 22(5), September 2009, pp.250-256.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
This essay on ‘No Longer Researching About Us Without Us’, an innovative national project which aimed to develop inclusive research with people with intellectual disabilities in the Republic of Ireland, is the author’s personal reflection, as co-ordinator of the project, on work undertaken by and with people with intellectual disabilities during its 18-month life span. Using two examples from the project, focusing on a coffee shop in a small community, and bullying, this paper explores links between the inclusive research aspect of the project, and the rights of people with intellectual disabilities to participate within their communities. As a result of ‘No Longer Researching About Us Without Us’, it was found that people with intellectual disabilities began to initiate and take action on some issues that were important to them, becoming stronger self advocates, resulting in the development of longer term changes in their role within one service in Ireland.
Rights, sexuality and relationships in Ireland: 'It'd be nice to be kind of trusted'
- Authors:
- KELLY Grace, CROWLEY Helen, HAMILTON Carol
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Learning Disabilities, 37(4), December 2009, pp.308-315.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Little formal research has been undertaken in Ireland, where it is currently illegal to have a sexual relationship with a person who cannot live without support, into what people with intellectual disabilities think about issues surrounding sexuality and what they would like to see happen in this area of their lives. This paper presents a preliminary analysis of research into the views and experiences of a 15 Irish people, aged between 23 and 41, with intellectual disabilities in the area of sexuality and relationships. Initial findings from a series of 1 hour discussion groups suggest that people with intellectual disabilities are getting insufficient sex education and that changes are needed at a disabilities service level to enable people with intellectual disabilities to express their sexuality in an open and supportive climate. At a government level, changes would need to be made to Irish legislation concerning the sexuality of vulnerable adults so that Ireland can meet its obligations under the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (2006). The authors argue that people with intellectual disabilities' views must come first in all debates concerning their sexuality.
"I want to see the Queen": experience of service use by ageing people with an intellectual disability
- Authors:
- BIGBY Christine, KNOX Marie
- Journal article citation:
- Australian Social Work, 62(2), June 2009, pp.216-231.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
People with intellectual disability are a relatively new but growing minority group within Australia's ageing population. Disability policies point to the equal right of people with disabilities to a quality of life similar to that of other citizens. Disability services are increasingly required to provide individualised and responsive services, irrespective of age, for people with lifelong disabilities. The present study explored the everyday lives of older people with intellectual disability in Victoria and Queensland, examining their experiences of using disability services and the ways in which services responded to their ageing. The aim of the study was to inform practice and service development for older people with intellectual disability. The findings suggest that services facilitate important social relationships with other service users and staff. Most older people had a sense of belonging and led busy but directionless lives in two disconnected worlds. Their lives were subject to significant external present-focused control. Yet, despite this, neither services nor family members took responsibility for ensuring their sense of continuity or supporting the development of plans about their future. The experiences described suggest an urgent need for, but significant challenges in the implementation of, holistic individualised planning similar to the UK concept of person-centred planning.
Empowerment, self-advocacy and resilience
- Author:
- GOODLEY Dan
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Intellectual Disabilities, 9(4), December 2005, pp.333-343.
- Publisher:
- Sage
- Place of publication:
- London
This article critiques the relationship between the aims of ‘learning disability’ policy and the realities of the self-advocacy movement. A previous study found that self-advocacy can be defined as the public recognition of the resilience of people with learning difficulties. In the current climate of Valuing People, partnership boards and ‘user empowerment’, understanding resilience is crucial to the support of authentic forms of self-advocacy. This article aims to address such a challenge. First, understandings of resilience in relation to self-empowerment and self-advocacy are briefly considered. Second, the current policy climate and service provision rhetoric are critically explored. Third, it is argued that we need to recognize how self-advocacy groups celebrate resilience through a variety of social and identity-shifting actions. How current policy responds to these aspects of resilience is questioned. It is concluded that the lived reality of self-advocacy needs to be foregrounded in any attempt to understand empowerment.
Empowerment, policy levels and service forums
- Author:
- BRANDOM Toby
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Intellectual Disabilities, 9(4), December 2005, pp.321-331.
- Publisher:
- Sage
- Place of publication:
- London
This article examines empowerment through policy at three levels: governmental, service and ‘street’. It focuses in particular on ‘street level’ policy, drawing on qualitative interviews and an analysis of documentation within a day centre for adults with learning difficulties. The recorded behaviour of the workers and the structure of the day centre affected service users’ experience of power. This is discussed through the theoretical construction of the organization’s ‘service forum’ that contains its ‘posture’, a set of formal values and beliefs owned by the organization, and the ‘culture’, which is the unofficial day-to-day presentation of the service. Finally the use of such an approach is considered with regards to the future analysis of services for people with learning difficulties.