Learning Disability

"This is a comprehensive, well written and highly informative book that explores, identifies and addresses many of the issues that affect the lives of people with learning disabilities and their family. The book covers many topical and important subjects that are extremely relevant and appropriate to my students' course work." Paul Mills, Senior Lecturer, Suffolk College "An excellent student text with good case studies and exercises to develop students' critical thinking." Sandra Fleming, Trinity College Dublin "impressive and comprehensive text" Mrs Jean Bell, Senior Teaching Fellow, University of Stirling What kinds of transitions and discontinuities in their life experiences do people with learning disabilities and their families face over the life cycle? How can people with learning disabilities and their families be helped to lead more valued, healthy and socially included lives? How best can practitioners and others support people with learning disabilities? This book adopts a life cycle approach in order to reveal important dimensions in the lives of people with learning disabilities and the effects upon them and their families. It tackles issues about transitions in people's lives and how services, professionals, advocates, allies and wider communities of interest can support people with learning disabilities in achieving healthy and valued lives. Different voices are heard in this book, but prominence has been given to the views and experiences of people with learning disabilities and their families. Each major life stage section of the book begins with one such narrative-based chapter, followed by chapters that develop practice, policy and theoretical themes that inform an evidence-based approach to supporting people. Learning Disability is primarily aimed at student readers entering health and social care professions to work with people with learning disabilities but also appeals as a reference text to professionals and those looking for up-to-date information and ideas relating to people with learning disabilities. Contributors: Dorothy Atkinson, Nigel Beail, Christine Bigby, Jane Bloom, Alison Brammer, Jacqui Brewster, Hilary Brown, Lesley Cogher, Helen Combes, Clare Connors, Eric Emerson, Margaret Flynn, Nick Fripp, Linda Gething, Dan Goodley, Peter Goward, Gordon Grant, Chris Hatton, Sheila Hollins, Jill Jesper, Kelley Johnson, Gwynnyth Llewellyn, Alex McClimens, Roy McConkey, David McConnell, Fiona Mackenzie, Ghazala Mir, Mark Powell, Raghu Raghavan, Paul Ramcharan, Malcolm Richardson, Bronwyn Roberts, Philippa Russell, Jane Stapleton, Kirsten Stalker, Lesley Styring, John Taylor, Irene Tuffrey-Wijne, Sally Twist, Jan Walmsley, Ada Watson.

Table of Contents:
Acknowledgements About the Editors List of Contributors PrefacePart One: The Construction of Learning Disability Narratives and people with learning disabilities Chapter From vagabonds to Victorian values: the social construction of a disability identity The roots of biomedical diagnosis Critiques of segregation and eugenics Learning disability and the law Models of service deliveryEric Emerson Maintaining a commitment to quality Advocacy, campaigning and people with learning difficulties Part Two: Childhood: Rights, Risks & Responsibilities Children with learning disabilities talking about their everyday lives Breaking ‘bad’ news Experiences of family care: bridging discontinuities over the life course Promoting healthy lifestyles: physical and sensory needs Communication and people with learning disabilities Part Three: Independence: Adolescents and the Younger Adult Adolescents and younger adults: narrative accounts Independence, reciprocity and resilience Managing independent living: safeguarding adults with learning disabilities against abuse Promoting healthy lifestyles – challenging behaviour (Almost) everything you wanted to know about sexuality and learning disability but were always too afraid to ask Supporting people with learning disabilities when they come into contact with the criminal justice system Promoting independence through work Counselling people with a learning disability Part Four: Social Inclusion and Adulthood You have to prove yourself all the time: people with learning disabilities parenting Promoting friendships and developing social networks Enabling and supporting person-centred approaches Culture and ethnicity: developing accessible and appropriate services for health and social care Work, learning & leisure? Only if you are lucky! The journey towards fulfilling lives for people with learning disabilities Promoting healthy lifestyles: mental health and illness Making a life in the community: is intensive personalised support enough? Engaging communities of interest Part Five: Citizenship and the Older Adult A late picking: narratives of older people with learning disabilities Growing old: adapting to change and realising a sense of belonging, continuity and purpose Promoting healthy lifestyles: end of life issues Research and emancipation: prospects and problems Index