Independence
Independence |
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a) Day centres1) Day centres still seemed to be a cause of much unhappiness with people not being properly involved or consulted.
2) Many centres are boring, old and out dated. They
must not be too restrictive but should support people to be more
independent.
3) Cutting groups like pre-employment groups is short
sighted.
4) Day centres can support people to get out and get jobs by using Direct Payments for their support, perhaps by starting with 2 or 3 days a week.
1) More people with learning difficulties have jobs,
some are unpaid but are still valued. Those that did get paid as well
liked their jobs even more. Everyone is entitled to a working wage!
2) The new minimum wage requirements had caused some people with learning difficulties to lose their jobs, others had got a rise.
3) Some support is needed to ensure jobs remain successful and any issues are dealt with quickly, not waiting until a crisis.
4) One visit showed that some New Deal disability
advisors knew nothing about people with learning difficulties.
People with learning difficulties are not getting proper support that causes many problems if people do want to sign on as looking for a job.
The employment
agencies are not geared up to supporting people with learning
difficulties, they have to ask new questions to all people signing on
regardless of whether they have a learning difficulty or not. These are
often too complicated and then cause problems.
5) It is often easier not to have to sign on, but this
leads to people not having job opportunities unless there are good
supported employment agencies in the area.
6) There should be accessible information for people with learning difficulties about the `New Deal' so people can learn about it.
7) The benefit traps are often a problem. More help is
needed to sort out benefits properly; many people said this is often not
available.
1) Transport needs to be better for people with
learning difficulties. People said this includes public transport, taxi
services and centre transport as well as mobility schemes that allowed
parents to use their sons or daughters cars for themselves.
2) Taxi services should be free or subsidised if people
can't use public transport. Taxis should be approved as reliable and
responsible with people with learning difficulties as a part of their
registration, which can then be removed if they do not provide a good
enough service or abuse people.
3) Public transport should be free or subsidised. Staff should be properly trained to support people with learning difficulties who use their service and know what to do if things go wrong.
4) There should be accessible travel information for
people with learning difficulties.
1) There was a reluctance to give Direct Payments to
people with learning difficulties. This led to rules being made that
restricted access rather than supported it.
2) People with learning difficulties must know of their
right to apply for Direct Payments.
3) No one should have a service reduced because of a
request for a Direct Payment.
4) Social services need to provide adequate information and support to people with learning difficulties to use Direct Payments if they wish.
5) If you are happy with one bit of your service e.g. your small group home but want to change your day service to a Direct Payment, you should be allowed to.
6) Direct Payments should be possible for all people with learning difficulties whatever their level of support need. This needs the issue of consenting to a Direct Payment sorted out, how to show how all people can be in control of their service and how support such as brokerage can help people with greater support needs.
7) Supported living.
There is often not enough support to live independently. As a result people get into problems. Small amounts of support would prevent this. People should be told of the different styles and types of support that could be arranged.
8) People said they need to be properly supported to move on and live independently if that is what they want.
1) Services must not take away people's independence.
2) Services must be what people want not what is the cheapest option.
3) Residential homes & long stay hospitals should
all be closed down so we can see an end to institutions, and a start of
people with learning difficulties getting direct payments so they can now
choose to either move into supported housing or into a group home.
f) Parents with learning difficulties.1) Parents with learning difficulties get a rough deal. Social services must have a policy about support for disabled parents with a sub section on proper support for people with learning difficulties.
2) Any assessment of a parent must only be done if they
have proper support as suggested by themselves and the local learning
difficulty teams. It cannot just be done by childrens teams or those
without proper experience and training in learning difficulty.
g) Respite care1) Respite care is often geared around what carers need. It can be changed if it was seen as a short break for the person, perhaps a holiday if that is what they want.