Choice in Intellectual Disabilities

Choice in Intellectual Disabilities
Name
Institution
Choice in Intellectual Disabilities
Introduction
According to statistics, 1.5 million people are affected by learning disabilities in the UK (Office for Disability Issues, 2008). Learning Disability is a common condition that last the entire life of the affected person. It is neither a disease nor an illness. The following characteristics can define individuals suffering from the disability: they are significantly impaired in terms of intelligence, impaired in terms of adaptive functioning or when the onset age occurs before the actual adulthood time (Robertson et al., 2007, p. 232). Individuals suffering from learning disabilities are unique people with their own history and opinions, likes and dislikes, and have rights that are the same to the ordinary people (Forder, 2007). Over the recent years, the health of people with learning disabilities (PLDs) has received attention from service development and policy makers. However, these efforts have been always geared towards reaction against negative reports and inquiries, trying to establish poor quality care and inequalities the groups of people have gone through (Gordon et al. 2007, p. 104).
Law and Policy: UK Policies and Disability
The four United Kingdom Countries have their individual policies on how the needs of the people suffering from learning disabilities to get worked on accordingly (Woodin et al., 2009). The policies individually describe a holistic approach that is essential in giving support to those with learning disabilities to get their full potential and get accommodated in the community. The objectives of the policies are to improve the overall quality of life and are designed on the following broad themes (Office for National Statistics):
Having choices and making personal decisions
Citizenship
Having equal rights
Social inclusion
Empowerment
Ireland Policy for people with learning disabilities
2005- Department of Health and Social Security Equal Lives: policy review and services for individuals with learning disabilities in Northern Ireland (Office for Disability Issues, 2008, p. 6).
Wales Policy
2001-Learning Disability Advisory Group fulfilling the promises: learning disability advisory group report
Scotland Policy
2013- The Scottish Government the Keys to Life: improving life quality for those living with the disability (General Register Office for Scotland).
England Policy
2009 - Department of Health, valuing people now: a new design three year strategy for those with learning disabilities.
These policies try to resolve the following issues for the people with learning disabilities:
The National Policy Context
This section looks at the current developments in policy regarding disability services. Two very critical reports about disability services were featured in the mid 1990s (Department of Health An Introduction to Direct Payments 2008):
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