The government published (following a review) an action plan to improve services for children and young people with speech, language, and communication needs.
Source: Better Communication: An action plan to improve services for children and young people with speech, language and communication needs, Department for Children, Schools and Families (0845 602 2260) and Department of Health
Links: Action plan | DCSF press release | Review report | Community Care report
Date: 2008-Dec
A new book examined the many theoretical and practical challenges that people with intellectual disabilities faced in exercising their civil rights.
Source: Frances Owen and Dorothy Griffiths (eds.), Challenges to the Human Rights of People with Intellectual Disabilities, Jessica Kingsley Publishers (020 7833 2307)
Links: Summary
Date: 2008-Dec
A report said that black and minority-ethnic people might be missing out on the benefits of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 due to lack of awareness. (The Act provided a legal framework to empower vulnerable people to make decisions for themselves or, if they were found to lack capacity, to ensure that decisions taken on their behalf were done in their best interests.)
Source: Rowan Myron and Jayasree Kalathil, Engaging with Black and Minority Ethnic Communities About the Mental Capacity Act, Mental Health Foundation (020 7803 1100)
Links: Report | MHF press release | Community Care report
Date: 2008-Dec
A report said that the number of people in England with a learning disability who needed social care services was growing up to 5.5 times faster than previously estimated.
Source: Eric Emerson and Chris Hatton, Estimating Future Need for Adult Social Care Services for People with Learning Disabilities in England, Centre for Disability Research/Lancaster University (Centre for Disability Research at Lancaster University)
Links: Report | Mencap press release
Date: 2008-Dec
A report said that prosecutors needed a clearer understanding of the needs of victims and witnesses with mental health issues or learning disabilities. It criticized a lack of information in the recording of cases involving disabled people, warning that this could lead to prejudice in the judicial system.
Source: Vanessa Lee and Corrine Charles, Research Into CPS Decision-making in Cases Involving Victims and Key Witnesses with Mental Health Problems and/or Learning Disabilities, Crown Prosecution Service (020 7796 8000)
Links: Report | Community Care report
Date: 2008-Dec
A report said that people with learning difficulties faced 'personal, systemic and routine' discrimination across the criminal justice system, from arrest to release from prison, and were more likely to be victims of miscarriages of justice.
Source: Jenny Talbot, No One Knows: Report and final recommendations – Experiences of the criminal justice system by prisoners with learning disabilities and difficulties, Prison Reform Trust (020 7251 5070)
Links: Report | PRT press release | Guardian report | BBC report
Date: 2008-Nov
A report examined ways of ensuring the inclusion of pupils with special educational needs within mainstream schooling. Pupils with learning disabilities wanted 'safe areas' in school to counter their vulnerability between lessons and at break times. Problems could be avoided if young people were consulted about their treatment.
Source: Richard Byers, Jill Davies, Ann Fergusson and Claire Marvin, What About Us? Promoting emotional well-being and inclusion by working with young people with learning difficulties in schools and colleges, Foundation for People with Learning Disabilities (020 7802 0300)
Links: Report | FPLD press release | Cambridge University press release | BBC report | Guardian report | Community Care report
Date: 2008-Oct
An article discussed the first stage of a study in which people with intellectual disabilities participated in focus groups to explore their definitions of advocacy and their advocacy support needs. The aim of advocacy was seen as empowerment: but this occurred only when support was readily available, concentrated on people's abilities, and facilitated opportunities for them to exert maximum possible control over their lives.
Source: Penny Llewellyn and Ruth Northway, 'The views and experiences of people with intellectual disabilities concerning advocacy: a focus group study', Journal of Intellectual Disabilities, Volume 12 Number 3
Links: Abstract
Date: 2008-Sep
Researchers examined the implementation, delivery, and outcomes of disagreement resolution services for parents of children with special educational needs. Parents lacked awareness of the services, and in some instances local authority staff were not clear about their function. Schools were not always aware of or confident about how to access mediation services.
Source: Rosalind Tennant, Meg Callanan, Dawn Snape, Ian Palmer and Janet Read, Special Educational Needs Disagreement Resolution Services: National evaluation, Research Report RR054, Department for Children, Schools and Families (0845 602 2260)
Date: 2008-Sep
A report said that adults with learning disabilities in Scotland living with their families appeared to receive fewer choices and services than those in supported accommodation. Annual spending per head for people with learning disabilities living at home ranged from £7,000 to £30,000, according to responses from 11 Scottish councils.
Source: Lucy Johnston, Missed Out, Missing Out, Quarriers (01505 616138)
Links: Report | Quarriers press release | Community Care report
Date: 2008-Sep
A report said that a lack of training and inadequate resources for prison staff in Northern Ireland meant that prisoners with learning disabilities were unidentified, bullied, and effectively excluded from rehabilitation courses.
Source: Nancy Loucks with Jenny Talbot, No One Knows, Prison Reform Trust (020 7251 5070)
Links: Report | PRT press release
Date: 2008-Sep
An article described a project which sought to identify the health and social care outcomes that were important to people with intellectual disabilities; and, where possible, whether partnerships delivered these outcomes.
Source: Emma Miller, Sally-Ann Cooper, Ailsa Cook and Alison Petch, 'Outcomes important to people with intellectual disabilities', Journal of Policy and Practice in Intellectual Disabilities, Volume 5 Issue 3
Links: Abstract
Date: 2008-Aug
Researchers examined the efficiency and effectiveness of use of resources in the provision of services for children and young people with speech, language, and communication difficulties. There was a lack of evidence for a 'best practice' or even 'good practice' model. Models of commissioning should be examined relative to local circumstances, and it was possible that more than one model might be effective and efficient depending on the specific factors for local authority and primary care trust partnerships.
Source: Geoff Lindsay et al., Effective and Efficient Use of Resources in Services for Children and Young People with Speech, Language and Communication Needs, Research Report RW053, Department for Children, Schools and Families (0845 602 2260)
Date: 2008-Aug
A manifesto highlighted the problems that people with both mental health problems and learning disabilities encountered in terms of their health, life chances, and inclusion.
Source: Chris Fitch, Rowena Daw, Neil Balmer, Katie Gray and Martin Skipper, Fair Deal for Mental Health: Our manifesto for a 3 year campaign dedicated to tackling inequality in mental healthcare, Royal College of Psychiatrists (020 7235 2351)
Links: Manifesto | RCPsych press release | Community Care report
Date: 2008-Jul
The report of an independent inquiry found that patients in England with learning disabilities faced discrimination, abuse, and neglect in the National Health Service.
Source: Jonathan Michael, Healthcare For All: Report of the independent inquiry into access to healthcare for people with learning disabilities, Department of Health (08701 555455)
Links: Report | EHRC press release | FPLD press release | Mencap press release | VODG press release | NHS Confederation press release | RCN press release | Liberal Democrats press release | Telegraph report | Guardian report | BBC report | Community Care report
Date: 2008-Jul
A government-commissioned report said that up to 50 per cent of children in some areas were growing up with significant speech, language, and communication needs. Without the help these children required to develop important communication skills during their school lives, there was a heightened risk of lower educational attainment; behavioural problems; emotional and psychological difficulties; poor employment prospects; challenges to mental health; and, in some cases, a 'descent into criminality'.
Source: John Bercow MP, The Bercow Report: A review of services for children and young people (0-19) with speech, language and communication needs, Department for Children, Schools and Families (0845 602 2260)
Links: Report | Review press release | Hansard | DCSF press release | Scope press release | NCH press release | CDC press release | Liberal Democrats press release | Guardian report (1) | Guardian report (2) | Telegraph report (1) | Telegraph report (2) | Community Care report
Date: 2008-Jul
Campaigners highlighted the level of cuts in services affecting people with a learning disability.
Source: Tell It Like It Is: What the crisis in social care really means for people with a learning disability, Learning Disability Coalition (020 7696 5574)
Links: Report | LDC press release
Date: 2008-Jul
The Special Educational Needs (Information) Act 2008 was given Royal assent. The Act (which began as a private member's Bill) amended the 1996 Education Act to compel the collation and publication of statistics on special education needs support.
Source: Special Educational Needs (Information) Act 2008, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Text of Act | Explanatory notes | HOC research brief | EDCM press release | Community Care report
Date: 2008-Jul
A report called for police forces to use a common system to screen suspects for vulnerability, in order to help prevent miscarriages of justice against people with learning disabilities.
Source: Jessica Jacobson, No One Knows: Police responses to suspects with learning disabilities and learning difficulties – A review of policy and practice, Prison Reform Trust (020 7251 5070)
Links: Report | Police Federation press release | Community Care report
Date: 2008-Jun
An article examined what could be done to support more citizens in England and Wales with learning disabilities to vote in national elections.
Source: Marcus Redley, 'Citizens with learning disabilities and the right to vote', Disability & Society, Volume 23 Number 4
Links: Abstract
Date: 2008-Jun
An article examined the gap between policy goals and practice in residential services for people with learning disabilities, and the range of obstacles to the promotion of choice and control that were routinely observed in the culture and working practices of the services.
Source: Mick Finlay, Chris Walton and Charles Antaki, 'Promoting choice and control in residential services for people with learning disabilities', Disability & Society, Volume 23 Number 4
Links: Abstract
Date: 2008-Jun
A third reading was given to a private member's Bill designed to amend the 1996 Education Act to compel the collation and publication of statistics on special education needs support.
Source: Special Educational Needs (Information) Bill, Sharon Hodgson MP, TSO (0870 600 5522) | House of Commons Hansard, Debate 16 May 2008, columns 1650-1702, TSO
Links: Text of Bill | Explanatory notes | Hansard | HOC research brief | BBC report
Date: 2008-May
An article compared ratings made by care standards inspectors with research measures for 52 homes for people with intellectual disabilities. The research measures were in general significantly correlated with one another. Most of the care standards ratings were also correlated with one another. However, only two of 108 correlations between care standards and research measures were significant.
Source: Julie Beadle-Brown, Aislinn Hutchinson and Jim Mansell, 'Care standards in homes for people with intellectual disabilities', Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, Volume 21 Issue 3
Links: Abstract
Date: 2008-May
A survey found that although 80 per cent of people with learning disabilities were registered to vote, only 1 in 6 participated in their previous local election and 1 in 8 in the previous general election. The complexity of the system, a shortage of accessible information, and a lack of learning disability awareness training for councillors, MPs and other political stakeholders, were all cited as key reasons for the low turnout.
Source: Press release 1 May 2008, United Response (020 8246 5200)
Links: United Response press release
Date: 2008-May
The government responded to a report by a committee of MPs on the human rights of adults with learning disabilities. It said that much progress had been made in ensuring that adults with learning disabilities had the same human rights as everyone else: but it recognized there was still more to be done.
Source: Government Response to the Joint Committee on Human Rights: A Life Like Any Other? Human Rights of Adults with Learning Disabilities, Cm 7378, Department of Health, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Response | MPs report | Hansard (1) | Hansard (2)
Date: 2008-May
A think-tank report said that parental choice, rather than 'expert' opinion, should drive policy on the education of children with special needs. The school admissions process should be overhauled to ensure that schools were not able to deny access to SEN children. The government should waive the 'prohibitive' £2 million sponsorship fee for academies establishing specialist SEN units. Two sets of performance tables should be published for schools – one which included SEN pupils and one which excluded them.
Source: Lucy Wilkins, Learning the Hard Way: A strategy for special educational needs, Policy Exchange (020 7340 2650)
Links: Report
Date: 2008-May
A report summarized the aims, findings, conclusions, and recommendations of research projects into the funding of provision for learners with learning difficulties and/or disabilities.
Source: Sally Faraday, Mick Fletcher, Lynn Macqueen, Silvia Munoz and Lindsay Wharmby, Funding for Learners with Learning Difficulties and/or Disabilities in School and Post-School Provision: An Integrated Approach, Learning and Skills Network (020 7297 9000)
Links: Report
Date: 2008-Apr
A report by a joint committee of MPs and peers said that the human rights of people with learning disabilities were frequently breached. Improvements were being made, but a culture based on outdated negative stereotypes needed changing.
Source: A Life Like Any Other? Human rights of adults with learning disabilities, Seventh Report (Session 2007-08), HC 73 and HL 40, Joint Committee on Human Rights (House of Lords and House of Commons) Select Committee, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Report | FPLD press release | United Response press release | BBC report | Community Care report
Date: 2008-Mar
A study found that 55 per cent of children who failed to reach the required level in standard assessment tests had dyslexia or specific learning difficulties.
Source: Chris Singleton, Screening for Dyslexia/Specific Learning Difficulties: Interim report, Xtraordinary People (01344 381565)
Links: Report | XP press release | NUT press release | Guardian report
Date: 2008-Mar
The interim report of an official review (by John Bercow MP) called for an end to a 'postcode lottery' of treatment for children and young people in England with speech and language difficulties.
Source: Review of Services for Children and Young People (0-19) with Speech, Language and Communication Needs: Interim Report, Department for Children, Schools and Families (0845 602 2260)
Links: Report | DCSF press release | RCSLT press release | BBC report | Guardian report | Community Care report
Date: 2008-Mar
An article presented findings from a national survey of 'background care' management in England – the formal mechanism for linking people with intellectual disabilities with public services. Variations were found in organizational arrangements, the performance of key care management tasks, and the degree of differentiation in approach according to need. Local authorities also differed in arrangements for person-centred planning.
Source: Chengqiu Xie, Jane Hughes, David Challis, Karen Stewart and Paul Cambridge, 'Care management arrangements in services for people with intellectual disabilities: results of a national study', Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, Volume 21 Issue 2
Links: Abstract
Date: 2008-Mar
An article said that the success of 'deinstitutionalization' for people with intellectual disabilities could at best be seen as 'uncertain'.
Source: Alexandra Hamlin and Peter Oakes, 'Reflections on deinstitutionalization in the United Kingdom', Journal of Policy and Practice in Intellectual Disabilities, Volume 5 Issue 1
Links: Abstract
Date: 2008-Mar
The government responded to a report by a committee of MPs on children with special educational needs. It said that there could be 'honestly held differences of view' about how best to improve provision for children with SEN and disabilities. It defended its decision to carry on implementing the policies and initiatives that were set in train by its long-term SEN policy document (Removing Barriers to Achievement) rather than consider a completely fresh approach.
Source: Special Educational Needs: Assessment and Funding: Government Response to the Tenth Report, Second Special Report (Session 2007-08), HC 298, House of Commons Children, Schools and Families Select Committee, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Response | MPs report
Date: 2008-Feb
A second reading was given to a private member's Bill designed to amend the 1996 Education Act to compel the collation and publication of statistics on special education needs support.
Source: Special Educational Needs (Information) Bill, Sharon Hodgson MP, TSO (0870 600 5522) | House of Commons Hansard, Debate 1 February 2008, columns 558-626, TSO
Links: Text of Bill | Explanatory notes | Hansard | HOC research brief | Guardian report
Date: 2008-Feb
A think-tank report called for an 'urgent systemic review' of the government's inclusion policy for children with special educational needs, particularly focusing on the failures of the 'School Action Plus scheme'. There should be a moratorium on the closure of special schools until a review of the statementing process had taken place.
Source: Charlotte Leslie and Chris Skidmore, SEN: The Truth About Inclusion, Bow Group (020 7431 6400)
Links: Report
Date: 2008-Feb
A think-tank report said that around 9,000 places at special schools had been lost since 1997; and that around 83 per cent of the increase in private school numbers over the same period were children with special educational needs.
Source: Charlotte Leslie and Chris Skidmore, SEN: The Truth About Inclusion, Bow Group (020 7431 6400)
Links: Report | Guardian report | Telegraph report
Date: 2008-Jan