C.E. Jottings

How the world of adult social care is a construct of lies.

Another telling-it-like-it-is posting from the always worth-reading, Mark Neary: “A daily battle to hold on to my sanity - "Syb Ill. Bas Well. Man Well” (The reference is to the great British TV comedy "Fawlty Towers", featuring John Cleese.) I recommend the read. Try this for a taster: "So much of the social care world is based on lies. The promotion of Choice when there isn’t any. The push for supported living as a beacon of independence when lots of... Read more →

If we can't do the maths on neurodevelopment problems, can we at least agree on the words?

So many words we use as if we had a common understanding what they mean: “inclusion” for instance, or “needs”; “special educational needs” or “learning disability”. A few months ago, we finally, after very many years, successfully, or so we thought, saw our adult daughter moved from the “physical disabilities team” to the “learning disabilities team”. Today, we learned that there was a flaw in the assessment and that she must be re-assessed – parents not invited, by the way.... Read more →

What's happening at Botton Village concerns all who work as volunteers with disabled adults

Over on Facebook, my friend John Popham draws attention to an innovative Dutch scheme that allows students to live in nursing homes rent-free (as long as they keep the residents company). "The university students pay no rent and in exchange spend at least 30 hours a month with some of the 160 elderly who live here, doing the things professional staff cannot always do". Here in the UK, an Order was (fortunately) made by the High Court on Friday, 13... Read more →

"For the first time in the history of modern social policy things are getting worse for disabled people"

"Independent living for disabled people is in reverse, six years on from a government strategy to deliver improved choice and opportunity". So says the Community Care website review of a report by Jenny Morris for In Control and Disability Rights UK. Read Jenny Morris's blog here on her report "Independent Living Strategy: a Review of Progress" Or read the Community Care website review here Or download the full report here. Or, if you would like something altogether more challenging and... Read more →

Are the big disability charities fighting hard enough for ILF funding?

Disability News Service reports growing fears that funding now provided for 19,000 Independent Living Fund recipients to help them be better able to be independent, to work, and to contribute to their community will be reduced to 'a safety net' after 2015-16. Department of Work and Pensions papers handed to lawyers for the 5 judicial review claimants last week appear to justify concerns that former ILF funding will be substabtially cut. Especially worrying is the posture of the "large disability... Read more →

Worcestershire assault on independent living challenged by Irwin Mitchell

There was I thinking the best thing for me to do, not having posted for a while, was to put up the shutters and hang a sign up "Back in the New Year". Then this: Teenager Who May Be Forced Into Residential Home To Seek Judicial Review Over Policy to Cap Care Costs A teenager and his family are launching a legal action in the High Court against Worcestershire County Council to challenge a policy which they say may force... Read more →