physical and learning disabilities

Scottish Consortium for Learning Disabilities (SCLD)

SCLD brings together some of the most respected practitioners and thinkers from across the learning disability sector who work alongside people who have learning disabilities and their families and carers.The team at SCLD is focused on delivering real change through influencing policy, identifying and sharing evidence and good practice and challenging public attitudes. SCLD aims to be a knowledge hub – offering support, information and new ideas about learning disability in Scotland.

SCIE research briefing 20 : the implementation of individual budget schemes in adult social care

This briefing examines some of the recent UK and international literature relating to the development of personal budget schemes for adults eligible for support from social care services. These include older people, people with physical or sensory disabilities, people with learning disabilities and people with mental health problems. Research briefing published by the Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE) in January 2007, updated in February 2009 and addendum added in March 2009.

UK Autism Foundation

The UK Autism Foundation (UKAF) is a charitable organisation which began in 2008. It has launched a £10 million fundraising program to realise its aims to build the first ever state of the art Autism Centre in London, build an autism school and to launch initiatives to help families dealing with autism who are poor. The UKAF developed from the work of the Autism Awareness Campaign UK founded in 2000 by parents and carers. The site provides access to the newsletter, and brief information about autism.

SCIE: guides

A one-stop shop for social care practitioners, presenting key findings, current legislation and examples of what is working well to guide and inform practice. Topics include mental health; children, young people and families; disability; fostering; and older people.

Learning Disability

Part of the Glasgow School of Social Work Research series, this Iriss podcast features Professor Roy McConkey, University of Ulster, speaking about the promotion of social inclusion of people with learning disabilities.

The definition of disability

This web page by Deborah Kaplan, Director of the World Institute on Disability, discusses different ways of defining 'disability' and looks at the complex ways that persons with disabilities perceive themselves and their changing status in society. For models for defining disability are discussed in detail: the moral, medical, rehabilitation, and disability models. References and web links are given.

Disabled people's costs of living

It is well known that disabled people face additional costs to enable them to meet their needs. However, there has been no clear evidence about the true extent of these costs. This research, conducted by the Centre for Research in Social Policy with the support of Disability Alliance, presents budget standards for groups of disabled people who have different needs arising from physical or sensory impairments.