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Increases in wheelchair use and perceptions of disablement
- Authors:
- SAPEY Bob, STEWART John, DONALDSON Glenis
- Journal article citation:
- Disability and Society, 20(5), August 2005, pp.489-505.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
Between 1986 and 1995, there appeared to be a 100% increase in the number of wheelchair users in England and Wales. This article reports some of the findings of a study designed to explore the social implications of this increase. Specifically, it examines the various explanations for the increases and concludes that whilst demographic changes or research methodologies are not responsible, the more likely causes are changing prescription practice, medical advances and changing attitudes to disablement. The article then explores the latter explanation by examining perceptions of wheelchair use, contrasting clinical and user views gained from in-depth interviews. It also reports findings from part of a large-scale postal survey of wheelchair users, which examined their attitudes toward different models of disability. It concludes that the responses of a large majority of wheelchair users of all ages are better explained by the social model of disability than any other.
Out of touch: local government and disabled people's employment needs
- Authors:
- PIGGOTT Linda, SAPEY Bob, WILENIUS Fred
- Journal article citation:
- Disability and Society, 20(6), October 2005, pp.599-611.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
In autumn 2003 the authors contracted to undertake a study in two district council areas of ways in which they could meet their Local Public Service Agreement (LPSA) targets in respect of disabled people returning to work. The authors undertook a literature review of barriers to work, interviewed a number of people involved in working with unemployed people and a number of disabled people in these areas. All the employment organisations we had contact with were working to an individual model of disability and the need to change their orientation became the central recommendation of the first phase of this study. This was rejected by those funding the study. At the end of the first year none of the organisations active in this area was able to identify a single disabled person who had returned to work as a result of their help. We conclude that central government policies are doing little to change the perception of the employment needs of disabled people within local government.
Social work with disabled people
- Authors:
- OLIVER Michael, SAPEY Bob
- Publisher:
- Palgrave Macmillan
- Publication year:
- 2006
- Pagination:
- 218p.
- Place of publication:
- Basingstoke
- Edition:
- 3rd ed.
Introduction to social work with disabled people. Includes chapters on: old and new directions in social work with disability; thinking about disability; the causes of impairment and the creation of disability; disability in the family; living with disabilities; the legal and social context of disability; and some professional and organisational aspects of social work with disabled people
Disabling homes: a study of the housing needs of disabled people in Cornwall
- Author:
- SAPEY Bob
- Journal article citation:
- Disability and Society, 10(1), 1995, pp.71-85.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
The study was an evaluation of housing need of disabled people who were wheelchair users through a process of consumer consultation. It was concerned to find out the extent and nature of that need whilst also testing out consultation through the use of research methods in comparison with a non-consultative approach taken by the local authorities. The nature of need was found to be qualitatively different to that found through the study of normative needs. A significant number of disabled people were being made more dependent by their housing and this was being reinforced by the agencies that were intended to help them. In particular, the failure to consult disabled people was leading the local authorities to make inappropriate plans for new build housing while the major need for adaptations was being undermined by their operation of the Disabled Facilities Grant. The findings support the call from other writers that the solutions to housing problems will only come through viewing disability as a civil rights issue.