A report examined the link between learning disabilities and mental health problems among young people. It addressed ways of supporting young people to be emotionally strong, through education, support for young people with learning disabilities and their families, friendships and advocacy.
Source: Count Us In: The report of the committee of inquiry into meeting the mental health needs of young people with learning disabilities, Foundation for People with Learning Disabilities (020 7802 0304)
Links: Summary (pdf)
Date: 2002-Dec
The government announced its intention to introduce a Bill to provide a carer or close relative with the general authority to act, within reasonable limits, in day-to-day decision making on behalf of people with mental incapacity on financial, welfare and healthcare matters.
Source: Press release 16.12.02, Lord Chancellor s Department (020 7210 8500)
Links: LCD press release | Law Society/BMA press release
Date: 2002-Dec
A survey reportedly found wide variation in whether people with learning disabilities are given free or cut-price bus travel by local authorities on the same basis as those with physical disabilities.
Source: Survey by United Response, reported in The Guardian, 13.11.02
Links: Guardian report
Date: 2002-Nov
An Audit Commission report examined how well children with special educational needs are served by the education system. It found a picture of 'great variability and much inequity', with support for children apparently influenced by factors such as which school they attend, where they live and their family background.
Source: Special Educational Needs: A mainstream issue, Audit Commission (0800 502030)
Links: Report (pdf) | Summary (pdf) | Community Care article
Date: 2002-Nov
One report from an education think tank urged the government to close special schools and ensure disabled children are taught in mainstream schools. A second report attacked the government over its failure to take a tougher line with local education authorities that place a high number of disabled children in special schools.
Source: School and Educational Justice The Human Rights Framework for Inclusion, Centre for Studies on Inclusive Education (0117 344 4007) | LEA Inclusion Trends in England 1997-2001, Centre for Studies on Inclusive Education
Links: Community Care article (1) | Community Care article (2)
Date: 2002-Nov
The schools inspectorate found that private schools for special needs offer satisfactory education, but that improvements are needed in both management and teaching.
Source: Independent Schools for Pupils with Special Educational Needs (SEN): Review of inspections 1999-2002, HMI 785, Office for Standards in Education (07002 637833)
Links: Report (pdf) | Press release
Date: 2002-Nov
A new book used the example of special educational needs services for children to examine the development of inter-agency theory and practice and of the concept of inter-agency work as a new professionalism.
Source: Caroline Roaf, Co-ordinating Services for Included Children: Joined-up action, Open University Press (01280 823388)
Links: Summary
Date: 2002-Nov
In 2002, some 249,000 pupils in all schools in England had statements of special educational needs. This represented a decrease of 3.6 per cent since 2001, but an increase of 6.1 per cent over the five-year period since 1997.
Source: Special Educational Needs in England: January 2002, Statistical Bulletin 10-02, Department for Education and Skills, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Bulletin (pdf)
See also: Journal of Social Policy Volume 31/1, Digest 121, paragraph 3.5
Date: 2002-Nov
Researchers found that a fifth of youngsters with learning difficulties leave school without a transition plan; that almost half have little or no involvement in the planning for their future; and that lack of planning leads to uncertainty and stress for some families.
Source: Pauline Heslop, Robina Mallett, Ken Simons and Linda Ward, Bridging the Divide at Transition: What happens for young people with learning difficulties and their families?, British Institute of Learning Disabilities, available from Plymbridge Distributors (01752 202301)
Links: Summary (pdf)
Date: 2002-Oct
A report contained the findings and lessons from the Growing Older with Learning Disabilities ('GOLD') programme (an initiative which aims to increase understanding of the concerns of older people with learning disabilities and older family carers), and called for a charter of rights.
Source: Today and Tomorrow: The report of the Growing Older with Learning Disabilities Programme, Foundation for People with Learning Disabilities (020 7802 0300)
Links: Summary | Guardian report
Date: 2002-Oct
Around 40 per cent of headteachers surveyed said that the proportion of pupils with special educational needs in mainstream primary schools increased in 2001 over the previous year, as did the variety of their needs.
Source: Tamsin Archer, Felicity Fletcher-Campbell and Lesley Kendall, Annual Survey of Trends in Education, Digest 13 Autumn 2002, National Foundation for Educational Research (01753 747281)
Links: Report (pdf) | Press release
Date: 2002-Oct
A study evaluated a training and development programme working with five organisations to involve people with learning difficulties in staff recruitment.
Source: Ruth Townsley, Joyce Howarth, Mark Graham and Pete LeGrys, Committed to Change? Promoting the Involvement of People with Learning Difficulties in Staff Recruitment, Policy Press for Joseph Rowntree Foundation, available from Marston Book Services (01235 465500)
Links: JRF Findings 912
Date: 2002-Sep
The 'Making Decisions Alliance' launched a campaign to close a gap in the law which meant that carers of people with a mental incapacity had no legal authority to make day-to-day, healthcare or financial decisions on their behalf.
Source: Mental Capacity and Decision Making Charter, Mencap (0207454 0454), Law Society and British Medical Association
Links: Campaign Charter (pdf)
Date: 2002-Jul
A private member's Bill was introduced which would make it a criminal offence for an individual to have sex with a person with a severe learning disability who was unable to give their consent.
Sources: Sexual Offences (Amendment) Bill HL], TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Bill (pdf)
See also: Journal of Social Policy Volume 31/2, Digest 122, paragraph 5.4
Date: 2002-Jul
Far too many local education authorities do not have effective strategies for the inclusion of pupils with special educational needs, the Office for Standards in Education said in a report.
Source: LEA Strategy for the Inclusion of Pupils with Special Educational Needs, HMI 737, Office for Standards in Education (07002 637833)
Links: Report (pdf) | Press release
Date: 2002-Jul
The government published new guidance to education and health professionals to help them identify children with autism and provide them with the best standards of support in schools.
Source: ASD - Guidance from the Autism Working Group, Department for Education and Skills (0845 602 2260) and Department of Health
Links: Guidance | DfES press release
Date: 2002-Jul
A charity for people with learning disabilities called for the role, needs and contributions of family carers to be built into policy delivery and evaluation at every level within key government departments.
Source: Valuing People, Valuing Families, Home Farm Trust (01242 211000)
Links: Press release
Date: 2002-Jul
A report said that many people with learning disabilities in Scotland have unrecognised and unmet health needs, and that the promotion of good health and wellbeing must be given greater priority at a strategic and local level.
Source: Promoting Health, Supporting Inclusion: The National Review of the Contribution of All Nurses and Midwives to the Care and Support of People with Learning Disabilities, Scottish Executive, TSO (0870 606 5566)
Links: Report (pdf) | Report
Date: 2002-Jul
The statutory framework for meeting children's special educational needs is serving some children poorly, an audit report found.
Source: Statutory Assessment and Statements of SEN: In Need of Review?, Audit Commission (0800 502030)
Links: Report (pdf) | Summary (pdf)
See also: Journal of Social Policy Volume 31/1, Digest 121 (paragraph 3.5)
Date: 2002-Jun
A report said local councils were failing to provide homes for thousands of people with a learning disability living with elderly parents.
Source: Housing Timebomb: The housing crisis facing people with a learning disability and their older parents, Mencap (020 7454 0454)
Links: Report (pdf) | Summary (pdf)
See also: Journal of Social Policy Volume 31/2, Digest 122 (paragraph 5.4)
Date: 2002-May