Lessons for inclusive citizenship? Difference, disability and rights in the lives of people with learning disabilities who have high support needs

Curtice, Lisa (2010) Lessons for inclusive citizenship? Difference, disability and rights in the lives of people with learning disabilities who have high support needs. PhD thesis, University of Glasgow.

Abstract

Policy in Scotland, as in the rest of the U.K, aims to enable people with learning disabilities to access the same opportunities as other citizens. This thesis explores the meanings and experiences of citizenship and inclusion in the lives of people who challenge services the most, whether because of profound impairment, vulnerability or perceived risk to others. Case studies were conducted with 14 individuals with learning disabilities who were assessed as needing at least one-to-one support in their day centre or supported living setting, or who were considered difficult to discharge from long-stay hospital. Through interviews and observations I sought to identify the barriers to and safeguards of inclusion in their daily lives. Perspectives on the issues affecting service provision were obtained through telephone interviews with commissioners in 28 out of 32 local authorities in Scotland, conducted at the time of ‘The same as you?’ review. I argue that the notion of the rights-bearing citizen should be extended to embrace vulnerability, differences in capacity and the need for advocacy in order to develop practices that do not systematically marginalise some people within a new normalcy of active citizenship. I also reflect on my own learning about the conduct of inclusive research from working with study participants with high support needs.

• Item Type: Thesis (PhD)
• Qualification Level: Doctoral
• Keywords: learning disability, citizenship, rights, inclusion, Scotland, policy, high support needs, services, outcomes, commissioning
• Subjects: H Social Sciences > HM Sociology; H Social Sciences > HN Social history and conditions. Social problems. Social reform
• Colleges/Schools: College of Social Sciences > School of Social and Political Sciences > Sociology Anthropology and Applied Social Sciences
• Supervisor's Name: Watson, Professor Nick
• Date of Award: 2010
• Depositing User: Mrs Lisa Curtice
• Unique ID: glathesis:2010-1902
• Copyright: Copyright of this thesis is held by the author.
• Date Deposited: 14 Jun 2010
• Last Modified: 10 Dec 2012 13:48
• URI: https://theses.gla.ac.uk/id/eprint/1902