Search results for ‘Subject term:"learning disabilities"’ Sort:
Results 1 - 2 of 2
Beyond friendship: the nature and meaning of close personal relationships as perceived by people with learning disabilities
- Authors:
- LAFFERTY Attracta, McCONKEY Roy, TAGGART Laurence
- Journal article citation:
- Disability and Society, 28(8), 2013, pp.1074-1088.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
This study uses a combination of dyadic and one-to-one interviews with eight couples with learning disabilities in Northern Ireland to gain a better understanding of the meaning and value these relationships bring to their lives. Data collection and analysis was informed and guided by the core principles of grounded theory. Five significant types of benefits were identified from having close personal relationships, namely: comradeship, a sense of contentment, availability of mutual support, coping with the ups and downs of relationships, and a continuing commitment. Service providers could do more to facilitate the formation of close meaningful relationships, and strategies for doing this need to be identified and evaluated. (Edited publisher abstract)
Optimizing the uptake of health checks for people with intellectual disabilities
- Authors:
- McCONKEY Roy, TAGGART Laurence, KANE Molly
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Intellectual Disabilities, 19(3), 2015, pp.205-214.
- Publisher:
- Sage
- Place of publication:
- London
The provision of an annual health check for adult persons with an intellectual disability is intended to counter the health inequalities experienced by this population. This study documents the uptake of checks across general practitioner (GP) practices in Northern Ireland over a 3-year period. In all, 84% of GP practices provided health checks covering an estimated 87% of the population with intellectual (learning) disabilities. Overall 64% of people known to practices had received a health check which is significantly higher than comparable percentages of around 46% reported for England. Nevertheless the uptake by patients varied across the five trusts in Northern Ireland but less so than across the English health authorities. These variations were linked to the deployment of health facilitators. However, younger people living with families, or independently, in more socially deprived areas were less likely to have had a health check. Ongoing monitoring is needed to ensure the quality of the checks provided and that health improvement plans are implemented. (Publisher abstract)