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

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

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

What do we mean by inclusion? NumberfriendsNumberfriends Visitors to home Community Activities with friends friends staff staff

Promoting inclusion What do we mean? What excludes?

Percentages no friends outside their home

Visitors to home in past month

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

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

Barriers to Social Inclusion

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

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

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

Type of goals Social activities 90%Social activities 90% Entertainment activities 34%Entertainment activities 34% Sport / Exercise activities29%Sport / Exercise activities29% Increasing independence 26%Increasing independence 26% Work or training activities 25%Work or training activities 25% Increasing social contacts 14% Increasing social contacts 14% Increasing contact with family 10% Increasing contact with family 10%

Percentage goals met

What helped Staff support 60Staff support 60 Facility available 18Facility available 18 Friends to go with13Friends to go with13 Staff assistance 12Staff assistance 12 Family support 7 Family support 7 Own transport 4 Own transport 4

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

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

Percentage Outcomes Present in samples by years Gardner and Carran 2005

Staff priorities in their job Supported LivingShared HousingDay centres Care tasks Social Inclusion tasks McConkey & Collins, 2009

MutualGainsMutualGains Providing stability PromotingdevelopmentPromotingdevelopment ReliableAllyReliableAlly Nature of the relationship Trust Listener Adviser Forgiving Insightful Trust Listener Adviser Forgiving Insightful

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

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

Social Inclusion Work Education Housing Friends Health Communication Transport Participation

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

Further Information

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

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