"Wheelchair access? That's a lifestyle choice!": lessons from a pilot advocacy service in south west England

Author:
BRIGHT Les
Publisher:
Older Peoples Advocacy Alliance
Publication year:
2009
Pagination:
32p., bibliog.
Place of publication:
Stoke-on-Trent

The title of this report is based on a direct quote from an exchange between an advocate and a member of staff of a housing association when discussing the situation facing a disabled tenant, and the difficulties the tenant was experiencing with wheelchair access to their home. The exchange took place during the evaluation on which this report is based. It highlights the prejudice and misunderstanding experienced by some advocacy service users, and indicates the valuable role that independent advocates can play in helping people to get their voices heard and action taken. This report highlights lessons arising from the evaluation of a pilot advocacy service for people with physical and sensory disabilities, and older people experiencing general frailty, in South West England during 2008. Combining findings from the project evaluation with reflections from the advocacy scheme’s staff and case examples, the report provides an in-depth insight into the emergence of an innovative independent advocacy scheme and the issues and factors which influenced its success.

Subject terms:
independent living, housing associations, mobility aids, mobility impairment, older people, self-advocacy, sensory impairments, service users, disabilities, evaluation;
Content type:
practice example
Location(s):
England

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