A new book examined legislative and policy shifts in the disability field in the previous 15 years, and provided an 'up-to-date, positive' approach to professional practice, based on the social model of disability.
Source: Jennifer Harris and Alan Roulstone, Disability, Policy and Professional Practice, SAGE Publications
Links: Summary
Date: 2010-Dec
A discussion paper said that the social care system would collapse if elderly and disabled people continued to be 'pushed' into nursing homes and day centres. A change of approach was needed, under which local councils – building on relationships with health professionals and community groups – provided care services for older people and those with physical and learning disabilities in their own homes and communities.
Source: Discussion Paper – The Future of Adult Social Care, Local Government Association
Links: Discussion paper | LGA press release
Date: 2010-Nov
A report said that millions of pounds of savings could be made if voluntary sector organizations were given more contracts for the care and support of disabled people.
Source: Gain Without Pain: How the voluntary sector can help deliver the social care agenda for people with disabilities, Voluntary Organisations Disability Group
Links: Report | VODG press release | IPC press release | Guardian report
Date: 2010-Aug
A report by a committee of the Northern Ireland Assembly described as 'totally unacceptable' delays in implementing a policy of resettling long-stay patients at learning disability hospitals in the community.
Source: Report on the Resettlement of Long Stay Patients from Learning Disability Hospitals, Fourteenth Report (Session 2009-10), Northern Ireland Assembly Public Accounts Committee/TSO
Links: Report | NIE press release
Date: 2010-May
An article examined local implementation of direct payments for disabled people. It concluded that greater harmonization might be required in the interests of social justice.
Source: Mark Priestley et al., 'Cultures of welfare at the front line: implementing direct payments for disabled people in the UK', Policy & Politics, Volume 38 Number 2
Links: Abstract
Date: 2010-Apr