Designs for Living
A Comparative Approach to Normalisation for the New Millennium
Steven Carnaby(Author)
Ashgate Publishing Limited
Published on 1. November 1999
Book
Hardback
246 pages
978-1-84014-831-2 (ISBN)
Description
Normalization as defined by Wolf Wolfensberger informs British services for people with learning disabilities, probably without exception. It is an approach which instructs services to help service users acquire behaviours and characteristics which are as "culturally normative as possible" (1972:28). The later interpretation by O'Brien (for example, 1980), where he summarizes and translates normalization into the "Five Service" accomplishments, has attempted to aid support staff in the task of translating operational policies built upon normalization into practice. While many studies have attempted to assess the efficacy of this approach, it is difficult to establish their success, as their measurement criteria are usually based upon levels of competence and participation - values themselves derived from the principle of normalization. This study attempts to step outside this dilemma by using a comparative research method.
Services in London are compared to services in Milan, as while the latter undertake to support people with learning disabilities using individual planning processes and on rare occasions residential services, the operational policies, training and overall framework for doing so are underpinned by an holistic, legislative model which views the family or its substitution as the key to service provision.
Services in London are compared to services in Milan, as while the latter undertake to support people with learning disabilities using individual planning processes and on rare occasions residential services, the operational policies, training and overall framework for doing so are underpinned by an holistic, legislative model which views the family or its substitution as the key to service provision.
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Taylor & Francis Ltd
Target group
College/higher education
Professional and scholarly
Illustrations
references, index
Dimensions
Height: 157 mm
Width: 223 mm
ISBN-13
978-1-84014-831-2 (9781840148312)
Copyright in bibliographic data is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or its licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Content
Arriving at normalization - an historical perspective on learning disability services, legislation and research; current research trends - what is "quality of life"?; a qualitative approach - research design and methodology; supporting people with learning disabilities - tracing the development of service principles in London and Milan; individual planning in learning disability services - implementing service principles in London and Milan; an ordinary life or substituting for the family? - a case study exploring the impact of learning disability service principles on daily practice in London and Milan; participant observation - daily life in the two projects; training staff in Britain - approaches to developing the professional in learning disability services; the training of "Educatori" (support staff) in Milan; normalization for the millennium - towards better implementation in learning disability services.