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An inquiry into the emotional impact of sight loss and the counselling experiences and needs of blind and partially sighted people
- Author:
- THURSTON Mhairi
- Journal article citation:
- Counselling and Psychotherapy Research, 10(1), March 2010, pp.3-12.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
While the link between sight loss and depression is well documented, dedicated counselling services for visually impaired people remain scarce, and research into the effectiveness of psychological interventions is mainly anecdotal rather than evidence based. This paper explores the emotional impact of visual impairment in four core areas (mood, self concept, social connectedness and loss), and explores the counselling experiences and needs of blind and partially sighted adults. Data was collected from 18 individuals using the mental health and social functioning sub-scales of the National Eye Institute Visual Functioning Questionnaire-25 and semi-structured interviews. Results indicated that participants with a serious eye condition shared a common transition from sight to blindness: diagnosis; coping with deterioration of sight; experiencing loss in different areas of life; experiencing changed perceptions of self in relation to society; experiencing others in a changed way; and experiencing rehabilitation. Participants indicated negative perceptions of counselling and a general lack of counselling opportunities. In conclusion, there is a need for counselling after diagnosis of visual impairment. Specific challenges facing those who deliver counselling to blind and partially sighted clients are discussed.
Employability trajectories among new claimants of Incapacity Benefit
- Authors:
- KEMP Peter A., DAVIDSON Jacqueline
- Journal article citation:
- Policy Studies, 31(2), March 2010, pp.203-221.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
Incapacity Benefits (IB) were replaced in October 2008 with the Employment and Support Allowance (ESA). This was done on the assumption that it would be a temporary benefit for the majority of people who claim it. After an initial medical assessment, new ESA claimants are allocated to one of two groups: those who have less severe or temporary conditions are allocated to the work related Activity Group, and are required to take active steps to prepare for a return to employment; and those considered to be severely disabled are allocated to the Support Group and are not expected to undertake work-related activities. This article examines the implications of the distinction between those claimants who potentially could do paid work and those for whom that outcome is much less likely. The authors, drawing upon baseline and follow-up surveys, examine the employment status trajectories of 1,843 new IB claimants in the year following their claim. The article examines three specific questions: who returns to work and what factors are associated with that outcome; how employable are the people who do not return to work and does their employability change during the first year of their claim; and among those who remained on IB after a year, what distinguishes people who classify themselves as permanently unable to work from those who do not? The article concludes with a discussion of the main findings, notably that location was a major factor in finding employment, and their implications for policy.
From Incapacity Benefit to Employment and Support Allowance: social sorting, sickness and impairment, and social security
- Authors:
- GROVER Chris, PIGGOTT Linda
- Journal article citation:
- Policy Studies, 31(2), March 2010, pp.265-282.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
This commentary examines the introduction of Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) as a replacement for the main income replacement benefit, Incapacity Benefit (IB), for sick and/or disabled people in Britain. The authors argue that the process of claiming ESA, a process that is dependent upon medicalised perceptions of capability to work and which is aimed at managing the perceived economic and social costs of sick and disabled people, is a means of sorting sick and/or disabled people into subgroups of claimants. The authors go on to discuss the implications of their observations with regard to explanations of the disadvantages that sick and/or disabled people face and their implications for the income of such people. The authors conclude that because the shift from IB to ESA is premised upon a number of mistaken assumptions (such as the majority of claimants abusing the system by overstating the effect of their sickness or disability), it represents a retrograde development for people who are sick and/or who have impairments, potentially leaving a lot more claimants financially impoverished than under the old IB system.
Hearing the voices of disabled students in higher education
- Authors:
- VICKERMAN Philip, BLUNDELL Milly
- Journal article citation:
- Disability and Society, 25(1), January 2010, pp.21-32.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
This paper reports on a study of the lived in experiences and perspectives of disabled students during attendance at a higher education (HE) establishment in northern United Kingdom. Using questionnaires, the views of 504 students, taking physical education, sport, dance and outdoor education classes, of their transition from induction, course delivery, barriers to learning, through to employability were recorded and followed by face-to-face interviews with four students who had indicated that they had physical or learning (including dyslexia) disabilities. The authors report work is needed to level HE experiences for disabled students and highlight five issues to be addressed in order to enable their access and entitlement rights as detailed in the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) 1995, Special Educational Needs and Disability Act (SENDA) 2001, and the Disability Equality Duty (DED) 2006. Firstly, the authors recommend the provision of pre-course inclusion support, which will at least encourage more students to disclose their disabilities and at best will make mainstream systems of induction more user friendly to all. Commitment by HE institutions to providing barrier-free curricula and support services is key, as is consultation with disabled students on all topics associated with their HE experiences. Fifthly, the authors call for the embedding of personal development planning for all students, but especially those with disabilities.
Employment change and the role of the medical home for married and single-mother families with children with special health care needs
- Authors:
- DERIGNE Leaanne, PORTERFIELD Shirley
- Journal article citation:
- Social Science and Medicine, 70(4), February 2010, pp.631-641.
- Publisher:
- Elsevier
The authors hypothesised that whether or not a child with special health care needs usual source of care meets the criteria for a “medical home” influences parents’ employment decisions. This study included 38,569 children with special health care needs from birth to age 17 surveyed in the 2005-2006 US National Survey of Children with Special Health Care Needs. The employment model is estimated using multinomial logistic regression with the choice of a parent to maintain current employment, reduce hours, or stop working as the dependent variable. Independent variables were those characterising the needs of the child, the resources of the family, and the socio-demographic characteristics of the family. Components of the medical home variable included: having a usual source of care; family centred care; care coordination services; and receipt of needed referrals. Half of the children met criteria in all four facets. The relative risk of a parent choosing to cut their hours rather than maintain them decreased by 51% if the child had a medical home. The relative risk of choosing to stop work rather than not change decreased by about 64%. Care coordination services in particular reduced the odds of changing employment status. The authors conclude that the medical home is a moderating factor in parental decisions concerning change in employment status.
Family needs of parents of children and youth with cerebral palsy
- Authors:
- PALISANO R. J., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Child: Care, Health and Development, 36(1), January 2010, pp.85-92.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Understanding the needs of families of children and youth with cerebral palsy (CP) is important for family-centred services. This study aimed to identify differences in the number and types of family needs expressed by parents based on the age and gross motor function level of their children with CP, identify the most frequent family needs, and identify needs that differ on gross motor function level. 501 parents of children and youth with CP completed a modified version of a Family Needs Survey and a demographic questionnaire. Children's gross motor function level was classified using the Gross Motor Function Classification System. Family needs, including information, community services and finances, differed in number according to gross motor function level. Parents of children/youth using wheeled mobility expressed the most family needs, while those with children/youth who walk without restrictions expressed the fewest. Parents of children and youth using wheeled mobility were more likely to express the need for help in paying for home modifications, equipment, services and locating sitters, respite care providers and community activities. The gross motor function level of children/youth with CP has implications for families’ needs and coordination of services. Family needs for future planning suggest that health professionals should assist families to prepare for key periods in the lives of their children with CP.
Course of behaviour problems of children with cerebral palsy: the role of parental stress and support
- Authors:
- SIPAL R. F., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Child: Care, Health and Development, 36(1), January 2010, pp.74-84.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Cerebral palsy (CP) is a well-recognised neurodevelopmental condition persisting through the lifespan. In many individuals with CP, motor disorders are accompanied by other disturbances, including emotional and behavioural problems. Little is known on the course of such problems, also in relation to possible exacerbating or mitigating factors. This study aimed to test whether parental stress and support played a significant role in the course of behaviour problems. Participants aged 9, 11 and 13 were assessed and followed up after 1, 2 and 3 years. Situational and relational sources of support and stress for the primary caregiver were rated with a questionnaire on behaviour problems using the Child Behaviour Check List. Motor ability was assessed using the Gross Motor Function Classification System. Behaviour problems of children with CP started significantly higher than in the general population, but diminished over the 3-year period. Older children showed fewer problems overall with girls showing fewer externalising problems than boys and children with the most severe CP having more externalising problems. Across time, an excess of stress vs. support related to parents' socio-economic and living situation and to parents' social relationships was positively related to total behaviour problems, both internalizing and externalising. The study concluded that levels of behaviour problems diminish during adolescence for children with CP. Severity of CP plays a role as well as the family context in terms of the stress and support that caregivers experience.
Working with lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people: people with physical disabilities: Doug's story
- Author:
- SOCIAL CARE INSTITUTE FOR EXCELLENCE
- Publisher:
- Social Care Institute for Excellence
- Publication year:
- 2010
- Place of publication:
- London
In this film we meet Doug, a gay man with physical disabilities who is in residential accommodation eight miles away from his friends and family. Doug carefully considered when to ‘come out’ within residential care and explains that this is a continual process because of the high turnover of residential care staff.
Discrimination and insensitivity about Doug’s being ‘out’ to other residents and suggestions by his providers to ‘keep quiet’ around other residents are highlighted in the film. Doug feels he has little opportunity to meet other gay people, so he feels isolated and cut off from the gay community.
Doug believes that a cultural shift and change in attitudes in social care is vital in order to provide relevant care for LGBT people. He also feels that direct payments are only one part of a solution to offer more choice and control to the user of services.
Social work with lesbians and gay men
- Authors:
- BROWN Helen Cosis, COCKER Christine
- Publisher:
- Sage
- Publication year:
- 2010
- Pagination:
- 200p.
- Place of publication:
- London
An increasing number of social workers need to develop evidence based practice and skills in supporting lesbians and gay men. This book provides them with the necessary background and context, along with an overview of some of the key challenges and concerns in the lives of these groups. The authors suggest that, despite positive changes in legislation, social work can still fail to meet the needs of lesbians and gay men, and this remains a marginalised area in practice, research and teaching. They propose ideas for social work practice that are both inclusive in assessment and in the provision of services. Knowledge and practice are linked and the book is structured in such a way that theories relevant to social work practices with lesbians and gay men are covered before specific areas of practice are addressed. Readers are encouraged to adopt a reflective critical approach to their work. Key topics include: the historical, legal, policy and theoretical context; values and ethics; anti-discriminatory and anti-oppressive practice; religion; family and kinship; relationship-based social work; work with adults, children and families; work with adults with learning or physical disabilities; and social work and mental health.
Supporting relationships and friendships: a workbook for social care workers
- Author:
- COLLINS Suzan
- Publisher:
- Jessica Kingsley
- Publication year:
- 2010
- Pagination:
- 112p.
- Place of publication:
- London
Receipt of care in residential services or their own homes can result in service user becoming very isolated. This workbook is designed to provide social care staff with the knowledge and skills to understand what friendships and relationships mean to these service users' health and well being. The author looks at how to assess social skills and the qualities needed in a friend. Sharing interests can provide companionship and promote self-esteem but other relationships and friendships can become negative or burdensome. Guidance is offered on how to help service users manage these relationships. The workbook book is appropriate for all staff supporting people with mental health needs, people with a learning or physical disability, older people and people with dementia. It can also be used as a cost effective training resource in both residential and domiciliary settings. Topics covered include: defining friendship; friendship and social skills; maintaining existing friendships; supporting the establishment of a new friendship; supporting self-esteem and feelings; the practicalities of going out; friendship and professional boundaries; monitoring, recording, reporting and risk; confidentiality; professional values; sexual relationships and their risks; and ending friendships and relationships, moving on. A self-assessment tool and links to legislation and other useful resources are provided.