Raising Our Sights, a report of services for adults with profound intellectual and multiple disabilities has been submitted to the government. Undertaken by Professor Jim Mansell of the University of Kent, the report is intended to help implement the 2001 government White Paper Valuing People, which addressed the needs of people with learning disabilities but left out the complex needs of people with profound intellectual and multiple disabilities.
Parity for Disability welcomes the publication of this report which highlights issues that Parity has been championing locally for the last 20 years. In particular, the importance of
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an individualised and person-centred service;
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a family-focused approach to commissioning services;
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funding for continued specialist advocacy;
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more effective transition arrangements so that appropriate services are provided as people move into adulthood;
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up-to-date information about the number, needs and circumstances of people with profound intellectual and multiple disabilities to enable effective planning of services;
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sufficient staff trained in person-centred approaches to communication and support;
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assistive technology that gives people with profound and multiple disabilities the opportunity to communicate, and the ability to indicate a preference or control an event.
In addition, Mansell addresses inequality of access to appropriate healthcare, pointing out specific health problems where services for adults often do not recognise and intervene effectively. He identifies inadequate wheelchair services as a major source of difficulty, and the potential of communication aids is only beginning to be appreciated in adult services.
Parity for Disability’s services are in tune with Professor Mansell’s recommendation that, as traditional day centres are replaced with a wider variety of alternatives, provision is made for a local base from which adults with profound intellectual and multiple disabilities can access different activities during the day.
Parity will continue to tailor its services to the needs of people with multiple disabilities in the community. The new building project will ensure that Parity has the dedicated facilities for meeting those needs.
Further details can be found in the full report. |
