learning disabilities

For more examples of Citizen Leadership, see the Gallery of Good Practice Examples in Citizen Leadership.

Ceartas is an independent advocacy organisation in East Dunbartonshire. Still Game is a project that encourages people who have had an advocate develop their leadership skills so that they can play a part in how the organisation runs.
Still Game started because Ceartas are keen to get real people involved at the heart of the organisation. Ceartas want to hear what they really think about the services they use. It is also about helping individuals take control over their lives, speak up and influence the social care services they use.

For more examples of Citizen Leadership, see the Gallery of Good Practice Examples in Citizen Leadership.

When Dundee City Council decided it was important to get the views of people who used their learning disability services, they adopted a Citizen Leadership approach.
They funded Advocating Together to employ five people with learning disabilities to consult with other people with learning disabilities, and find out what was most important to people, and what services would help them most.

Briefing for family carers supporting an adult with severe learning disabilities and behaviour described as challenging. It will help people understand what to expect from local services.

A disability interactive e-learning resource created to support people achieve outcomes for children.

For more examples of Citizen Leadership, see the Gallery of Good Practice Examples in Citizen Leadership.

Rachel is a young carer who cares for her mother who has bi-polar disorder. She has cared for her Mum since she was 10 and describes how this affected her life when she was younger.
Now, Rachel is at University but still caring for her mum, but through support from the Dundee Project she has developed confidence and is now much more capable of coping with her caring role and still achieving all of her own goals.

For more examples of Citizen Leadership, see the Gallery of Good Practice Examples in Citizen Leadership.

V.I.P.s is a citizen leadership project committed to improving the health and wellbeing of people with learning disability and autism spectrum disorder by encouraging them to speak up for themselves and others.

The Centre for Disabilities Research has produced two annual reports in the past, in 2005 and 2008. The first new report, covers 2010, and brings together information on the characteristics of people with learning disabilities, the services and supports they use and their carers.

This document is a Report for the Social Care Institute for Excellence. It was published by Norah Fry Research Centre at the University of Bristol in July 2008. ‘Listen to what I want’ (Jan-May 2008) was a short study of major decisions in the lives of 20 people with learning disabilities, from their point of view. The overall purpose was to learn more about the potential impact of the Mental Capacity Act (MCA) with people with learning disabilities.

The Scottish Government asked inspection agencies to look at how well some areas were supporting people with a learning disability. A team of people visited four areas to check up on how good services were for people with a learning disability. The team included people with a learning disability and family carers.

This report is intended to inform the negotiations between service commissioners, clinicians and general managers of psychiatric services for children and adolescents with intellectual disabilities and their families. It aims to give an overview of the ways in which a service might be provided and the elements for a standard specification that might be adapted for local need.