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Welfare Reform on the Web (January 2004): Services for the Disabled - UK

LOUD AND CLEAR

P. Kennedy

Health Service Journal, vol.113, Dec. 18th 2003, p.30-31

Improvements in hearing aid provision have been hampered by staff shortages and long waiting lists. Pilot projects have demonstrated the feasibility of increasing NHS capacity through use of the private sector. A partnership between the NHS and private companies delivers digital hearing aids to users free at the point of delivery.

OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL?

G. Preston

Disability Rights Bulletin, winter 2003, p.9-12

Government has recently published its fifth annual report on tackling poverty and social exclusion. Article comments on those aspects of the report that focus on disabled people. Covers measures to get disabled people back to work, support for carers, childcare for disabled children, and help for minority ethnic groups.

web linkRESPONDING TO DISABLED PEOPLE'S NEEDS IN THE RESIDENTIAL ENVIRONMENT (PDF format)

Economic and Social Research Council, 2003

The research examined disabled people's housing needs and found that the provision of accessible dwellings focused on standards and rules underpinned by a medical model of impairment. There is little attention to making a house into a home. Building control officers could change this by educating builders about the need to offer quality homes which exceed the minimum standards laid down by building regulations.

SERVICES FOR DISABLED CHILDREN: A REVIEW OF SERVICES FOR DISABLED CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES

Audit Commission

Audit Commission Publications, 2003

Found that families often faced a long struggle to get the bare minimum of support. Service provision varied widely from one local authority to another, and was rarely based on the priorities and perceived needs of the families. Families often struggled to track down essential information about services and found that providers worked to their own priorities rather than planning jointly. These issues are being addressed in some areas through:

  • shared registers of disabled children;
  • establishment of forums in which service providers from all sectors can develop joint working;
  • use of recent guidance on delivering sensitive services.
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