Exploring Experiences of Advocacy by People with Learning Disabilities : Testimonies of Resistance

Annotation. Exploring Experiences of Advocacy by People with Learning Disabilities charts the course through which people with learning disabilities have become increasingly able to direct their own lives as fully active members of their communities. Accounts from the UK, Australia, Canada and Iceland consider both the individual pioneers of self advocacy and local and national groups that have been set up to work actively towards improved services for people with learning disabilities. The book also examines what self advocacy means for these people and provides an overview of how opportunities and services have changed for them over the decades. This is inspiring and encouraging reading for people with learning disabilities and provides useful information for those working with them or for them in community and government services 'This book provides a fascinating vignette of the personal experiences of People with Learning Disabilities for the better (or worse) part of the last century. What makes the book so interesting is actually meeting some of those involved and seeing their stories in print. It flags up what has been achieved so far, and what still needs to be done.' - Oral History 'The editors of this book, written by a range of authors form the UK and overseas, set out to provide the reader with an understanding of the ways in which people with learning disabilities direct their lives through advocacy. Its strength lies in the way in which it puts to the forefront the voices of those who have been, and still might be, excluded from society if it were not for the different forms of resistance they have engaged in.' - Professional Social Work 'The accounts are all of acts of resistance and survival, many of them told by the people themselves. This creates another fascinating book which contributes greatly to an appreciation of the role of people with learning difficulties themselves in the historical struggle for better treatment in society.' - CommunityLiving 'This book explains how people with learning disabilities have become increasingly able to direct their own lives as fully active members of their communities. It also explains what self-advocacy means for these people and it shows how opportunities and services have changed for them in 10 years.' - Europe for Us! 'Heartbreaking, touching and at times inspirational, this book introduces us to the people who have been oppressed, the system that oppressed them and the individuals who stood up to them...Read this if you are involved in supporting people and you will find yourself addressing your practice and attitudes and ultimately, improving the quality of care you deliver.' - Community Care 'The accounts are all of acts of resistance and survival, many of them told by the people themselves. This creates another fascinating book which contributes greatly to an appreciation of the role of people with learning difficulties themselves in the historical struggle for better treatment in society.' - Community Living Exploring Experiences of Advocacy by People with Learning Disabilities charts the course through which people with learning disabilities have become increasingly able to direct their own lives as fully active members of their communities. Accounts from the UK, Australia, Canada and Iceland consider both the individual pioneers of self advocacy and local and national groups that have been set up to work actively towards improved services for people with learning disabilities. The book also examines what self-advocacy means for these people and provides an overview of how opportunities and services have changed for them over the decades. Many of the personal accounts, photographs and songs included in this book will be accessible and encouraging to people with learning disabilities, and they will provide inspiring reading for professionals who work with them, family members and community and government service providers. Introduction, by Duncan Mitchell Personal Accounts of Advocacy and Resistance Advocacy as Resistance: Speaking Up as a Way of Fighting Back, by Dorothy Atkinson, Mabel Cooper and Gloria Ferris Restriction and Resistance: The Experience of Life on a Locked Ward for People with Learning Disabilities, by Katherine Owen ‘I Would Never Walk, Talk, Sit or Stand!’ The Girl on the Tricycle, by Marjorie Chappell with Duncan Mitchell Two Pioneers of Self-advocacy: Ray Loomis and Tom Houlihan, by Paul Williams ‘I’ve Had Enough of the Everyday Thing’: Karen Spencer’s Life Story, by Karen Spencer with Jan Walmsley Resilience and Resistance in the Life Histories of Three Women with Learning Difficulties in Iceland, by Gudrún Stefánsdóttir and Rannveig Traustadóttir Songs of Resistance, by Sue Ledger and Lindy Shufflebotham Speaking for Ourselves: Accounts of Self-advocacy in Action My Life, My Choices, by Paul Savage, Tina Wilkinson and Carl Worth ‘What They Want – Yes, But What We Want – Bugger Us!’, by Andy Docherty, Elizabeth Harkness, Malcolm Eardley, Louise Townson and Rohhss Chapman The Life of a Group and a Personal Story: Experiences from Huddersfield People First, by Jeremy Hoy, Dries Cautrels, and Dan Goodley Alliances with Others Fires Burning: Advocacy, Camping and Children with Learning Disabilities in Ontario, 1950–1990, by Jessa Chupik Resistance in Mencap’s History, by Liz Tilley One Man’s Dream that Continues to Inspire Others, by Heather Cadbury Maureen Oswin and the ‘Forgotten Children’ of the Long-stay Wards: Research as Resistance, by Sheena Rolph and Dorothy Atkinson Tales from the Burdens, by Peter Carpenter Taking a Stand Against the Odds, by Kelley Johnson Alternative Interpretations: Reflections on Resistance Assistance and Resistance: Making Sense of Inter-war Caring Strategies, by Pamela Dale Stereotyped Behaviour: Resistance by People with Profound Learning Disabilities, by Melanie Nind Conclusion, by Duncan Mitchell The Contributors Subject Index Author Index Exploring Experiences of Advocacy by People with Learning Disabilities: Testimonies of Resistance 3 Contents 5 1. Introduction 7 Part I: Personal Accounts of Advocacy and Resistance 11 2. Advocacy as Resistance: Speaking Up as aWay of Fighting Back 13 3. Restriction and Resistance: The Experience of Life on a LockedWard for People with Learning Disabilities 20 4. ‘IWould NeverWalk, Talk, Sit or Stand!’: The Girl on the Tricycle 27 5. Two Pioneers of Self-advocacy: Ray Loomis and Tom Houlihan 37 6. ‘I’ve Had Enough of the Everyday Thing’: Karen Spencer’s Life Story 42 7. Resilience and Resistance in the Life Histories of ThreeWomen with Learning Difficulties in Iceland 54 8. Songs of Resistance 68 Part II: Speaking for Ourselves: Accounts of Self-advocacy in Action 91 9. My Life, My Choices 93 10. ‘What TheyWant – Yes, ButWhat WeWant – Bugger Us!’ 100 11. The Life of a Group and a Personal Story: Experiences from Huddersfield People First 108 Part III: Alliances with Others 117 12. Fires Burning: Advocacy, Camping and Children with Learning Disabilities in Ontario, 1950–1990 119 13. Resistance in Mencap’s History 128 14. One Man’s Dream that Continues to Inspire Others 142 15. Maureen Oswin and the ‘Forgotten Children’ of the Long-stay Wards: Research as Resistance 153 16. Resistance and Control: Mutinies at Brentry 172 17. Taking a Stand Against the Odds 179 Part IV: Alternative Interpretations: Reflections on Resistance 189 18. Assistance and Resistance: Making Sense of Inter-war Caring Strategies 191 19. Stereotyped Behaviour: Resistance by People with Profound Learning Difficulties 202 20. Conclusion 212 THE CONTRIBUTORS 216 SUBJECT INDEX 221 AUTHOR INDEX 224