Search results for ‘Subject term:"physical disabilities"’ Sort:
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Michelle finds a voice
- Authors:
- HOLLINS Sheila, BARNETT Sarah
- Publishers:
- Gaskell, St. George's Hospital Medical School
- Publication year:
- 1997
- Pagination:
- 44p.,list of orgs.,bibliog.
- Place of publication:
- London
Presents the story of a young woman with cerebral palsy who is unable to speak. She feels isolated and unhappy and similarly her carers are frustrated in their attempts to understand or recognise her needs. Illustrates what happens to Michelle and how she and her carers are helped to overcome these difficulties. Various solutions are explored, including the use of signing, symbol charts and electronic communication. There is written text at the end of the book which provides one possible narrative for the pictures in the main part of the text.
Contemporary advocacy: providing advocacy for young people with verbal and communication difficulties
- Authors:
- BOYLAN Jane, DALRYMPLE Jane, STARLIING Ros
- Journal article citation:
- Childright, 225, April 2006, pp.28-31.
- Publisher:
- Children's Legal Centre
This article looks at Xpress, a well established advocacy service in East Sussex which provides advocacy for children and young people between the ages of eight and 21 years old. These children are either 'looked after' by a local authority or have left care, or have a learning or physical disability or a mental health difficulty. Many of the children have serious difficulties communicating verbally.
Ascertaining the prevalence of childhood disability
- Authors:
- HUTCHINSON T., GORDON D.
- Journal article citation:
- Child: Care, Health and Development, 31(1), January 2005, pp.99-107.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
The aim was to reapply 1985 Office of Population Census and Surveys (OPCS) disability survey methods, modified as necessary, to a sample of children to ascertain presence of disability, and then compare OPCS-based prevalence with prevalence based on carer's views and medical records. Medical records of 46% contained a diagnosis. Carers were always aware of this, although a single question did not always elicit their knowledge. OPCS-derived threshold disability criteria in categories of Hand function, Personal care, Consciousness and Continence gave prevalence results similar to medical records and carers. OPCS criteria yielded higher prevalence of disability in the areas of Locomotion (8%), Communication (14%) and Hearing (18%). Carers, OPCS and medical records disagreed markedly about prevalence of disabilities of Vision, probably because of the use of differing definitions. OPCS learning criteria were judged unsuitable and standard attainment targets (SATs) were substituted. These provided similar prevalence figures to carers and medical records. OPCS behaviour criteria were also unsuitable and were replaced by the General Health and Behaviour Questionnaire (GHBQ). This found an increased prevalence of problems compared with carers and doctors. Diagnostic labels have limited use when collecting data about disabled children. Doubt is cast on the validity of some of the 1985 OPCS threshold criteria, and reassessment is suggested before their future use. Further work is needed on the use of SATs and GHBQ in the benchmarking of disability. To collect population data it would be easier and at least equally effective (with caution in the case of Vision) to ask carers directly rather than applying descriptive thresholds and external judgements. Similar information could be obtained from medical records, however, they are likely to be out of date.
The child with special needs: encouraging intellectual and emotional growth
- Authors:
- GREENSPAN Stanley, WIEDER Serena, SIMONS Robin
- Publisher:
- Perseus
- Publication year:
- 1998
- Pagination:
- 496p.bibliog.
- Place of publication:
- Cambridge, MA
Presents a guide to raising a child with special needs. In this essential work they lay out a complete, step-by-step approach for parents, educators, and others who work with developmental problems. Covering all kinds of disabilities, including autism, PDD, language and speech problems, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, and ADD - the authors offer a new understanding of the nature of these challenges and also specific ways of helping children extend their intellectual and emotional potential.
Advocating for equality
- Authors:
- LEWINGTON Wendy, CLIPSON Caroline
- Publisher:
- SCOPE
- Publication year:
- 2003
- Pagination:
- 41p.
- Place of publication:
- London
The aims of this research were: to establish the level of advocacy provision for people with physical, sensory, communication and profound and multiple impairments; to make recommendations to Government, policy-makers and others on how to ensure that people with sensory, physical, communication and profound and multiple impairments are able to access appropriate independent advocacy provision; to identify what support and resources current advocacy providers would require to develop their schemes to include people with physical, sensory, communication and profound and multiple impairments; to establish whether local authorities have a local advocacy plan and whether advocacy providers feel this would be beneficial in their area The main findings from the research also included the following.. Many disabled people with physical, sensory, communication and profound and multiple impairments would benefit from the support of an independent advocate.. There is inadequate independent advocacy provision, especially for people with physical, sensory, communication and profound and multiple impairments. The main causes of lack of independent advocacy provision are funding issues and a lack of skills and experience around working with these groups of people. The types of independent advocacy undertaken by advocacy schemes may not always meet the needs of these groups of people. Finally, there is very little evidence of advocacy plans at a local level, but overwhelming support for their development among advocacy schemes.
Including all children: finding out about the experiences of children with communication and/or cognitive impairments
- Author:
- MORRIS Jenny
- Journal article citation:
- Children and Society, 17(5), November 2003, pp.337-348.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Practitioners and researchers have made progress, in recent years, in seeking the views of children and young people. Less progress has been made in seeking the views of young people with significant communication and/or cognitive impairments. Drawing on the experience of three research projects and one Best Value review, this article details the lessons learnt, and action required, in order to find out about the experiences of this important group of children and young people.
Not the only way to communicate: a challenge to voice in child protection work
- Author:
- KENNEDY Margaret
- Journal article citation:
- Child Abuse Review, 1(3), December 1992, pp.169-177.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Provides an overview of various communication methods which workers need to be aware of when doing child protection work with children with disabilities. The examples cited are for children with deafness, learning difficulties, language disorders, Cerebral Palsy, multiple disability, Spinal Bifida and Hydrocephalus.
Caged in chaos: a dyspraxic guide to breaking free
- Author:
- BIGGS Victoria
- Publisher:
- Jessica Kingsley
- Publication year:
- 2005
- Pagination:
- 200p.
- Place of publication:
- London
Written by a teenage dyspraxic, this book is a practical guide for dyspraxics and those around them struggling and determined to get to grips with the social, physical and psychological chaos caused by developmental co-ordination disorders (DCDs). In her own conversational style, the author discusses both the primary effects of her ‘learning difference' – disorganization, clumsiness and poor short-term memory – and the secondary difficulties she and other dyspraxics encounter, including bullying, low self-esteem and loneliness. She offers down-to-earth advice on a wide range of issues, from body language, puberty, health and hygiene to family life and social skills. Personal stories and ‘this-is-what-it's-like-for-me' accounts from other dyspraxic adolescents are also included.
Improving service approaches and outcomes for people with complex needs through consultation and involvement
- Authors:
- CLARE Linda, COX Sylvia
- Journal article citation:
- Disability and Society, 18(7), December 2003, pp.935-953.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
Services have not always catered well for people with complex needs. The term 'complex needs' is used here to signify people who have cognitive impairments and communication difficulties that present major challenges for getting one's views and preferences heard and understood, and/or who may not fit into traditional categories of service provision. Current developments in policy and practice, such as the single shared assessment process, emphasise inclusion through user involvement. There is a danger, however, that people with complex needs will be seen as too difficult to involve, and will therefore remain effectively excluded from the decision-making process and from the opportunity to influence service provision. This article explores the current situation in relation to ensuring genuine involvement for people with complex needs, highlights obstacles to progress and examples of good practice, and identifies future directions for research and practice.
Challenging behaviour and cerebral palsy
- Author:
- PIMM Paul
- Publisher:
- SCOPE
- Publication year:
- 1997
- Pagination:
- 27p.bibliog.
- Place of publication:
- London
This booklet is a basic introduction with a view to providing a greater understanding of challenging behaviour particularly as it relates to adults with cerebral palsy. Some broad strategies for managing challenging behaviour are discussed. Contents include: personal risk factors in cerebral palsy; reasons for challenging behaviour; management of challenging behaviour in cerebral palsy; post assessment; some key learning points; the pharmacological approach.