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Sterilization of women and girls with disabilities : a briefing paper

WOMEN WITH DISABILITIES AUSTRALIA (WWDA)
et al
November 2011

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The paper gives a background to the issue of forced sterilisation, outlines various international human rights standards that prohibit forced sterilisation, and offers several recommendations for improving laws, policies, and professional guidelines governing sterilisation practices. It is useful for anyone interested in the sterilization of women and girls with disabilities

Inclusive democracies require voting rights for people with disabilities

NEIER, Aryeh
November 2011

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This blog post presents the story of a woman with Down Syndrome who initially was prevented from voting in Peruvian elections because of her intellectual disability but successfully won her right to vote. The article concludes by encouraging inclusive policies that support the participation of people with disabilities in political life
Note: This post is part of a blog series that reflects on The Open Society Foundations work to advance the rights of persons with disabilities around the world

Complexities in the Provision of Respite Care to Family Carers of Persons with Intellectual Disabilities

MANNAN, H
O'BRIEN, P
MCCONKEY, R
FINLAY, F
LAWLOR, A
HARRINGTON, G
2011

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Purpose: Respite care is generally thought to benefit family carers of persons with intellectual disabilities and is regarded as an important component of family-centred services. However, the complexities associated with the provision of such services, from the carer’s perspective, have been rarely investigated.

 

Method: This qualitative research study was carried out through a participatory action research process that involved collaboration among researchers and family members as co-researchers. Seven focus groups, involving seventy family carers (fifty mothers, fifteen fathers and five sisters), were held in seven locations across the Republic of Ireland.

 

Results: Three main themes dominated the discussions. The first theme related to the ambivalence of carers towards using respite services, as expressed in their reluctance to relinquish care-giving for even a short period; the feelings of guilt they experienced; and the greater needs of other carers. The second theme related to the benefits of respite breaks, but these were solely with respect to the carer and other family members, rather than to the person with an intellectual disability. The third theme regarding the quality of provision was dominated by concerns for the care the person received in using the services.

 

Conclusions: Respite care has the potential to make a difference, and these findings call for building much- needed alliances between all members of the family and professionals. This is in order to support one another through the difficulties associated with the redesign of existing respite provision, and the extension of these services to the growing number of carers who require respite breaks.

Intellectual/developmental disabilities and conflict : advocacy of the forgotten|What are the experiences of persons with intellectual/developmental disabilities in violent conflict and post-conflict situations? : with a focus on humanitarian assistance

ROHWERDER, Brigitte Lea
September 2011

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"This dissertation examines and analyses the experiences of persons with intellectual/developmental disabilities who have been neglected in practice and academia, focusing on their interactions with humanitarian assistance"
Dissertation submitted in part fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Post-War Recovery Studies at the University of York
The user has given permission for the uploaded document to be reproduced and made publicly available on the Source website

Intellectual disability and aboriginal Australians : training needs for psychiatrists

ROY, Meera
BALARATNASINGAM, Sivasankaran
May 2011

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This article highlights that Aboriginal Australians have relatively high rates of intellectual disability, which might be due to poor health and social disadvantage. Given populations with high rates of intellectual disability are more at risk of developmental disorders and mental ill health, the authors explore the training needs for psychiatrists working with indigenous people and how they can be met
International Psychiatry, Vol 8, No 2

The right to political participation of persons with mental health problems and persons with intellectual disabilities

EUROPEAN UNION AGENCY FOR FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS (FRA)
November 2010

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This report provides the first results from a legal study carried out by the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) in the context of its project on the "Fundamental rights of persons with intellectual disabilities and persons with mental health problems." It begins with an analysis of the key international and European principles relating to the right to political participation. The situation in EU Member States is summarised and compared in Section 2. The report then presents the legal situation in the EU Member States and concludes with some possible ways forward
Note: This report is also available in easy read format

SSR : supporting social roles|A second bottom line for services to people with developmental disabilities

O’BRIEN, John
July 2010

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This manual explores supporting social roles (SSR) and presents a way for an organization to identify what it is accomplishing by describing the social roles played by the people it supports. The manual outlines SSR as an appreciative process focused on organizational learning and builds on what is already working. Worksheets are provided to describe the roles, supports and lessons in each category

The cost of disability : final report

TRAVAGLIA, Sarah
et al
2010

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"The Cost of Disability Report identifies the additional resources (support, equipment, transport and time) and the costs associated with these resources that disabled people aged 18-64 years require to live in the community and to achieve an ordinary standard of living"
The report and budgets are available to download in pdf, word and excel formats

On the outskirts of normality: Young adults with disabilities, their belonging and strategies

OLIN, Elisabeth
JANSSON, Bibbi Ringsby
2009

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During the last decades, the living conditions for young people with disabilities have changed dramatically in Sweden, as well as in other parts of theWestern world.The boundaries between what is considered normal as opposed to different have become less clear as a result of these changes. This has been followed by new problems regarding integration and changing patterns of marginalization. The aim of this study was to gain a deeper understanding of the ways in which young adults’ social identity is shaped by their dual belongings: to the category of individuals with disabilities as well as to mainstream society. In- depth interviews were carried out with 15 young adults with mental disabilities and mild intellectual disabilities occasionally combined with various forms of social problems. The analysis focused on the ways in which the young adults related to what they describe as normal and different as well as their strategies for navigating between them. The data was subsequently divided into three categories: Pragmatic Navigators, Critical Challengers, and Misunderstood Rebels, which reflect the ways in which the respondents describe themselves and the perspective they have developed to manage their existence.

The efficacy of community based rehabilitation for children with or at significant risk of intellectual disabilities in low and middle income countries : a review

ROBERTSON, Janet
EMERSON, Eric
HATTON, Chris
August 2009

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"The aim of the present review is to summarise evidence regarding the efficacy of CBR in relation to one particular ‘high risk’ group of disabled children; children with intellectual disabilities (ID)...Only 10 studies were identified for inclusion in the review of research on the effectiveness of CBR for children and adolescents with ID and these are summarised in Appendix Two. An examination of reviews on the effectiveness of CBR for all people with disabilities points to two main reasons for this low level of evidence. Firstly, CBR has not been the subject of a significant amount of rigorous evaluation. Secondly, children and adolescents with ID have not been the recipients of significant amounts of CBR. We will discuss the reviews on the effectiveness of CBR generally and indicate what they say about ID before outlining the extremely small amount of information available on the effectiveness of CBR for children and adolescents with ID"
CeDR Research Report 2009:4

'UN in action' Paraguay : Jorge and Julios' Story

UNITED NATIONS TELEVISION
2009

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The documentary highlights the importance of the right to community integration. It follows a young man, Jorge, who went from living in a caged cell to a life in the community and highlights Mental Disability Rights International's (MDRI) work in Paraguay, where international human rights law was used to end life-threatening abuses in psychiatric facilities and lay the groundwork for a new system of community care. This film would be beneficial for people interested in human rights and advocacy for people with learning disabilities

A custom distorted : beliefs about sexual abuse involving teenagers with intellectual disability at a rural setting in South Africa

PHASHA, N
MYAKA, Lucy
2009

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This paper is based upon the findings of a study that took place in a rural setting in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. It describes the social problem of sexual abuse of teenagers with intellectual disabilities by analyzing the roots of common misconceptions of intellectual disability, which render these teenagers vulnerable to sexual abuse. This paper is useful for anyone interested in learning more about disability and misconceptions of disability in Africa

Talking about sex and relationships : the views of young people with learning disabilities

CHANGE
2009

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"This report talks about the Sex and Relationships project. This was a 3-year project that took place at CHANGE, a leading national organisation led by disabled people that is based in Leeds, in England, that fights for the rights of people with learning disabilities...The project found out about the views and experiences of young people with learning disabilities about sex and relationships"

The right to live in the community : making it happen for people with intellectual disabilities in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia and Kosovo

ADAMS, Lisa
2008

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This report concerns the situation of people with intellectual disabilities in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo under UN Security Council Resolution 1244, Montenegro and Serbia. It describes how five organisations working in the region have successfully developed innovative services to support people with intellectual disabilities to live in their communities as equal citizens. The aim of this report is to highlight the importance of developing a range of client-focused, community-based services as alternatives to institutionalisation; demonstrate that such services can successfully be developed in the region; identify barriers to the development of such services; and make recommendations on how to address such barriers

Autism : a guide for criminal justice professionals

THE NATIONAL AUTISTIC SOCIETY
2008

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"This guide provides background information about autistic spectrum disorders. It aims to assist all professionals working in the criminal justice system, who may come into contact with someone who has autism, particularly police officers, solicitors, barristers, magistrates, justices of the peace, the judiciary and the courts"

Sex and relationships for people with learning disabilities : a challenge for parents and professionals

GARBUTT, Ruth
2008

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"This paper considers some of the issues around sex and relationships for people with learning disabilities. It is essentially a discussion paper, highlighting previous research, and information about the rights of people with learning disabilities to have sex and relationships. It particularly focuses on concerns for parents and some implications for professional practice that have arisen from a research project that is trying to find out more about the issues. The main messages coming from parents within the research project is that there is a need for clear, concise information about sex and relationships for young people with learning disabilities and there is also a need for professionals to give parents more support"
Mental Health and Learning Disabilities Research and Practice Journal, 5

Essential skills for mental health care

CRABB, Jim
RAZI, Emma
September 2007

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This manual has been designed to provide essential information to mental health professionals to help provide good, safe care to people with mental ill health. The initial chapters provide an introduction to mental health and the later chapters and the appendices will be of more use to experienced health professionals who prescribe medicine

Atlas : global resources for persons with intellectual disabilities

SAXENA, Shekhar
et al
2007

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This report provides detailed information about the resources and services for people with intellectual disabilities based upon a study of 147 countries. The methods of the study, themes of the findings and recommendations for the future are given, as well as detailed tables, figures and maps. Intellectual disability is one of the most vulnerable groups among disability categories. This study would be useful for people seeking information about intellectual disabilities worldwide

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