Search results for ‘Subject term:"learning disabilities"’ Sort:
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Innovations in employment training and work for people with learning difficulties
- Editors:
- McCONKEY Roy, McGINLEY Patrick
- Publisher:
- Lisieux Hall Publications
- Publication year:
- 1992
- Pagination:
- 240p.,illus.
- Place of publication:
- Chorley, Lancs.
Future aspirations of students with severe learning disabilities and of their parents on leaving special schooling
- Authors:
- SMYTH Marisa, McCONKEY Roy
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Learning Disabilities, 31(1), 2003, pp.54-59.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
The majority of school-leavers over 2 years from two special schools in Belfast were individually interviewed as were their parents. The almost unanimous wish of the young people to have a job was not matched by the parents, although nearly half of the parents did express the wish that they would have at least part-time work. The majority of young people and the parents envisaged living with the family albeit for different reasons. However, there was a strong emphasis on fostering the young person's independence and living with friends. Consequently, only a minority of families mentioned their son or daughter moving into traditional residential care settings. It is argued that it is not just the availability of services that need to increase in order to meet the aspirations of the young people and their parents; major changes are also needed in their form and function.
Changes in the provision of day services in Ireland to adult persons with intellectual disability
- Authors:
- McCONKEY Roy, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Policy and Practice in Intellectual Disabilities, 16(1), 2019, pp.13-20.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Internationally, changes are advocated in the support available to persons with intellectual disability. Socially inclusive personalized arrangements are intended to replace congregated and segregated day services. The study examines the changes in the provision of day services within Ireland over a 5‐year period when new policies were being promoted but at time of economic stringencies. Secondary analysis was carried out on data extracted from the National Intellectual Disability Database on all persons aged 18 years and above in 2009 and 2014 who received day services, which were grouped into four main types: care centers, sheltered workshops, employment schemes, and vocational training. Participants in each type of service were profiled by age, level of disability, and living arrangements. Variations in the provision of these services across nine regions were also examined. In 2009, 59% of persons attended care centers, but the proportion had increased in 2014 to 69%. There were reductions in the numbers attending sheltered workshops (down from 23 to 16%) and those receiving employment supports (down from 13 to 11%). By 2014, variations in the numbers attending care centers were evident across the country. The increase in care provision does not accord with national or international policies. Rather, it may reflect ineffective policy implementation strategies and financial cutbacks which services experienced during this period. This study illustrates the value of a national dataset for monitoring policy implementation. (Edited publisher abstract)