Promoting the social inclusion of people with learning disabilities - an impossible dream?

1. Roy McConkey, University of Ulster Promoting the social inclusion of people with learning disabilities - an impossible dream?

2. What do we mean? What excludes? Promoting inclusion Creating Social Capital What makes a difference?

3. Talking to People Being accepted What does it mean to you to be included? More Opportunities Community Activities

4. What do we mean by inclusion? Number friends Visitors to home Community Activities with friends Community Activities with staff

5. What do we mean? What excludes? Promoting inclusion

6. Percentages no friends outside their home

7. Visitors to home in past month

8. Mean number of activities in last month McConkey et al, 2005

9. Likelihood of community participation • Dispersed Living (5.7x) • Clustered Living (4.1x) • Small group Homes (3.8x) • Residential Homes (2.8x) • Higher Competence (2.4x) McConkey et al, 2005

10. Barriers to Social Inclusion

11. Barriers to Social Inclusion Abilities and Skills e.g. Poor knowledge of the area Staff and Management e.g.Not allowed to go out alone The community e.g. Name calling and bullying The home / scheme e.g Few community facilities nearby

12. What do we mean? What excludes? Promoting inclusion What makes a difference?

13. What makes a difference? No challenging behaviours Sharing with less than 4 people Female Visitors to home Number friends Activities with friends Activities with staff Living in dispersed housing Can travel independently Can’t travel independently

14. Type of goals • Social activities 90% • Entertainment activities 34% • Sport / Exercise activities 29% • Increasing independence 26% • Work or training activities 25% • Increasing social contacts 14% • Increasing contact with family 10%

15. Percentage goals met

16. What helped • Staff support 60 • Facility available 18 • Friends to go with 13 • Staff assistance 12 • Family support 7 • Own transport 4

17. What hindered? • No plans made 36 • Change mind 27 • Facility not suitable 17 • Person not able 15 • No money 10 • No staff 10 • No friends 9

18. What do we mean? What excludes? Promoting inclusion Creating social capital What makes a difference?

19. Percentage Outcomes Present in samples by years Gardner and Carran 2005

20. Staff priorities in their job Care tasks Social Inclusion tasks Supported Living Shared Housing Day centres McConkey & Collins, 2009

21. Trust • Listener • Adviser • Forgiving • Insightful Nature of the relationship Promoting development Reliable Ally Providing stability Mutual Gains

22. Creating Social Capital Decision-makers Linking Bridging Bonding Woolcock and Narayan, 2000

23. Culture within Unified Sports • Personal Development • Inclusive and Equal Bonds • Positive Representation • Alliances Bridges to Social Inclusion Barriers to Social Inclusions • Culture outside Unified Sports • Segregated lifestyles • Negative attitudes to Intellectual Disabilities • Low expectations Unified Sports

24. Social Inclusion Education Work Friends Communication Participation Housing Health Transport

25. Support Staff Service Managers People with a learning disability Local communities Local Communities Government Policy

26. Further Information r.mcconkey @ulster.ac.uk

28. Attributes of support staff Listening Trust-worthy Companion - accompanies Mutual Engagement Being with YOU, and for YOU Giving space – respecting autonomy Practical Assistance Adviser/ Problem solver Creating Opportunities Available – goes extra mile

29. Creating Communities Reviewing service procedures and staff roles Developing People’s Abilities and Skills Awareness raising in the community Greater access to amenities