Personalisation and a new landscape for learning disability services

Abstract

My first experience of working with people with learning disabilities was in 1992, when I was on placement within a therapeutic unit while completing my art therapy training. I got to know the people there as individuals and this challenged some of my preconceptions about learning disabilities. I also became aware of government proposals for change which were then primarily focused on closing down longstay institutions and, instead, caring for people within community settings (House of Commons 1990). Since then, there have been significant developments in the provision of services for people with learning disabilities in the UK. The move towards personalised care and away from a predominantly service led approach has had a significant impact on the lives of many people with learning disabilities, particularly in the areas of accommodation, employment and social opportunities. In this chapter, I look at the changing political and social climate which provides the context for the case examples in this book.