Search results for ‘Subject term:"physical disabilities"’ Sort:
Results 1 - 5 of 5
Supporting disabled children and their families in Northern Ireland: a research and policy review
- Authors:
- KELLY Berni, MONTEITH Marina
- Publisher:
- National Children's Bureau
- Publication year:
- 2003
- Pagination:
- 12p.
- Place of publication:
- London
Research has provided valuable information on how support services in Northern Ireland can be targeted to meet the needs of disabled children and their families, some of which is based on the views of these children and their parents who are most able to identify the types of services they require. It is imperative that this knowledge is incorporated into the delivery and development of support services in Northern Ireland. Research suggests that parents experience poorly coordinated systems and inadequate services especially at particular stages, such as diagnosis or post-school transitions. Respite care services hold potential benefits for disabled children and their families but need to be more flexible, comprehensive, family based and focused on the needs and wishes of disabled children. There is a need to develop more integrated recreational, social and leisure opportunities for disabled children to help combat their social exclusion.
Working together for change
- Author:
- McKEEVER Brendan
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Occupational Therapy, 68(9), September 2005, pp.418-420.
- Publisher:
- Sage
Engaging those who provide services with those who actually receive services has often been problematic. This opinion piece is based on a housing campaign - the Homes Fit For Children Campaign - and shows how an issue can be raised to a political level. It is an illustration of good practice, demonstrating how occupational therapists, working together with parents were able to have a pivotal role in change resulting in the abolition of the means test for the Disabled Facilities Grant in Northern Ireland.
Parental health and stress in families with a child who has multiple disabilities
- Authors:
- TRUESDALE Maria, McCONKEY Roy
- Journal article citation:
- Child Care in Practice, 7(2), June 2001, pp.141-152.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
The presence of a disabled child is known to increase family stress and parental ill-health. However, it is unclear the extent to which support services can alleviate this. In this study families using two short-break services - both residential and domiciliary - formed the study population. Measures were taken using standardised instruments of children's development and maladaptive behaviours, parental stress, parental health and the supports that the families received from services, professionals and relatives and friends. The findings reinforced the complexity of disentangling the relationships between family needs and service supports. They also suggest that existing presumptions about more services reducing family stress are too simplistic. It is argued that the meaning of support for families needs to be critically reviewed along with an examination of the coping strategies used by families. This should result in better matching of support services to individual family needs.
Child protection audit for children with a disability
- Authors:
- BRADSHAW John, STEWART Lynn
- Journal article citation:
- Child Care in Practice, 5(3), July 1999, pp.204-212.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
Presents an extract from an audit carried out by the Northern Area Child Protection Committee (NACPC). It is based on a presentation made by a social worker (Speech and Language Therapy Manager). Whilst it provides the background, rationale, overall findings and recommendations, it also focuses on what was learned from the children.
What the future holds: older people caring for adult sons and daughters with disabilities
- Authors:
- DILLENBURGER Karola, MCKERR Lyn
- Publisher:
- Changing Ageing Partnership
- Publication year:
- 2009
- Pagination:
- 150p., bibliog.
- Place of publication:
- Belfast
This report is based on interviews with 29 parents reporting on 27 adult sons and daughters with disabilities in which issues were explored in relation to present life circumstances, support from family and service providers, levels of health and impairment, and futures planning. Findings expose high levels of commitment and love for sons and daughters in the face of, at times, severe disabilities and carers’ ill health. Carers also experienced twice the level of psychological stress than the general population. They faced worry and loneliness, experienced severe lack of statutory support, and reported near non-existence of futures planning, especially in cases with highest levels of impairment.