++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Disability Research Network e-Newsletter: January 2008 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++   Editor’s Comments: Welcome to the 10th edition of the Disability Research Network e-newsletter (in association with the Research Institute of Health and Social Change, Manchester Metropolitan University and Breakthrough UK Ltd).  I would like to  thank all those who contributed to this edition.   Please, remember to submit contributions for the next edition by latest 30th of January, 2008 so that we have the next edition on time. When submitting, please remember to use simple text version for easy accessibility. Once again, thank you for the wonderful support and I wish you a happy and successful 2008. Best Wishes Tsitsi Chataika Coordinator’s Comments:  Please find below the 10th e-newsletter from this newly established but expandable network. Our aims are to provide informal, off the press and informative monthly details of disability research activities, which might be of interest to audiences including disability activists, organisations of disabled people, students, researchers, policy makers, families, practitioners and local authorities. The idea for this newsletter emerged from discussions between the Research Institute for Health and Social Change, Manchester Metropolitan University (http://www.rihsc.mmu.ac.uk/) and Breakthrough UK Ltd - a social enterprise that draws upon social model ideas to promote employment advocacy, advice, support and training to disabled people (http://www.breakthrough-uk.com/). They encouraged us to share regular information from disability research, which might inform their work. This sharing and networking links into the aims of the Disability Studies Association and, we hope, will have broader appeal (http://www.disabilitystudies.net/). This network relies, obviously, on regular monthly input. What we would like from you, if you are interested:   * The details of your institution and one contact person and their email address * Monthly commitment to provide us with BRIEF information (inc. related web links) about disability research activities you and your colleagues are involved through emails each month me (you will be reminded by email). This could be no more than a few lines – and no attachments – as we want to keep it workable, informal and relatively easy to read. * To provide details on such things as news on forthcoming publications; conferences/seminars you are attending or hosting; funding opportunities of interest to disability researchers; news from local and national government; international disability issues; stories from research; ideas for research that you would like to explore with interested others; disability studies teaching materials and resources; links to new policy and user consultation, etc … * To provide in your email information categorised in terms of your institution e.g. ‘News from the Research Institute of Health and Social Change, Manchester Metropolitan University’; ‘Activities of the disability studies team at University of Northumbria’. * To make the email simple text without loads of formatting for ease of putting together * To posit other ideas for developing the e-newsletter - perhaps a section on 'possible future research / funding priorities' which readers might be able to link into for funding bids. We hope you are interested.   Very best wishes,   Dan Goodley d.goodley@mmu.ac.uk +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 1. News From Manchester Metropolitan University, Research &Social Change (a) SOCIAL CHANGE AND WELL BEING SEMINAR SERIES SPRING TERM 2008 The Social Change and Well Being Research Centre Research Institute of Health and Social Change The Manchester Metropolitan University http://www.rihsc.mmu.ac.uk/ The Social Change and Well Being Research Centre engages in research which informs policy and practice, enhances effectiveness of organisations, celebrates diversity and works within a social justice framework to enhance people's lives, health and well being. Researchers draw upon a variety of theories and approaches to research in order to understand and change the oppressive conditions of contemporary society. This seminar series reflects this commitment to social justice with an explicit focus on the development of theory, methodology, analysis and activism. All sessions, 12.30 - 2pm in Gaskell Campus of the University in rooms detailed below - For maps visit http://www.mmu.ac.uk/about/locations/gaskell-and-hollings.php John Goldring, Salford University, 23rd January 2008; Room NTR, 12.30 - 2.00 pm, The Notion of Trust in an Authoritarian Society - A Generational Perspective of Gay Men from the UKā€¯ Clive Baldwin, University of Bradford, 6th February 2008; Room NTR, 12.30 - 2.00 pm, Person-centred care as the management of living: An actor-network analysis of living with dementia Mick Finlay, University of Surrey, 5th March 2008; Room NTR, 12.30 - 2.00 pm "Looking at power in interactional practice: an example from residential services for people with learning difficulties?" Nigel Cox, MMU, 12th March 2008; Room OB109, 12.30 - 2.00 pm "Talking to informants about disability: situated knowledge and common sense" Jacqui Gabb, Open University, 9th April 2008 12.30 - 2.00 pm Venue? Room TBA, 12.20 - 2pm, "Boundaries of Intimacy: What Counts as an Intimate Relationship and Who's Counting?" Sue Baines, MMU, 16th April 2008; Room NTR, 12.30 - 2.00 pm "Seeing the whole picture? Reflections on an e-government programme to support multi-agency working" For information about Social Change and Well Being Research Centre please contact Dan Goodley (d.goodley@mmu.ac.uk) or Rebecca Lawthom (r.lawthom@mmu.ac.uk) (2) News from Dr Ju Gosling sent by Allan Sutherland (a) LDAF funding cut This is to pass on the news that the Arts Council has axed LDAF's funding from April. This is quite appalling given that LDAF is the only disabled-led disability arts organisation in London, and has won an international reputation for its film festival and other work. The decision also seems to take no account of the new public sector duty to promote disability equality, which specifically talks about the need to support organisations 'of' disabled people to take lead roles within this. It is particularly surprising news in light of the recent Tate debate, which attracted a sell-out audience. Only 3 people voted for the motion that disability arts should be dead and buried in the 21st century, and even the speakers 'for' the motion felt unable to defend it. In ACE's usual inimitable style, they have only given LDAF until 15 January to defend themselves, making it extremely hard for them to get a strong case together for why they should continue to be funded. Pat would like as many letters and emails of support sent to her - can you let as many of your contacts know about this as possible please. LDAF would also welcome suggestions of how they might best defend themselves, including suggestions as to how they can improve the way that they operate - they have had to relaunch in the past 18 months with an entirely new staff team, so clearly there is room for improvement and growth. I have suggested to Pat that LDAF redo their business plan, pointing to the national strategic role they already play with the Film Festival and ADC magazine and the success of the Tate debate earlier this month, and the need for someone to take forward other national strategic work given the closure of NDAF. It is also, of course, essential for the sake of any cultural programme linked to the Paralympics that we have an organisation doing national strategic work, preferably from London. If LDAF closes as well as NDAF (and NDAF's directors have already taken an irrevocable decision to close), we can abandon all hope of a Paralympic arts festival that is led by disabled people and is of an international standard, let alone the world-beating Paralympic arts festival that we could produce. We can also abandon hope of ever achieving representation within the arts, given that the percentage of disabled people both working in the arts and attending arts events is less than 5% at present. NB: Ju is neither a trustee nor an employee of LDAF, but Ju is writing as a London-based disabled artist who believes passionately in the importance of having a disabled-led democratic disability arts forum in London For further please information, contact: Dr Ju Gosling 8 Kildare Road London E16 4AD Tel: 020 7476 9619 Mob: 07973 252751 Fax: 020 7476 2384 Email: mail@ju90.co.uk Website: www.ju90.co.uk 3. News from Andrew Hughes (a) Survivor Services Newsletter Inside this issue An Inspector Calls ………………………. 2 Open Up…………………………………... 2 On the other hand………………………... 3 Oldham Open User Forum……………... 3 University Life……………………………. 4 January Sales……………………….…… 4 Special points of interest * Open Up: Challenging Discrimination * IBsEN gets it wrong * Unique opportunity for value in 2008 MHT is no more As many of you may know, I had been trading as Mental Health Training for some time, since March 2000 in fact. This year I decided to change my business name to Survivor Services. This move was to reflect the fact that my work is much more varied than training alone. Typically my work also covers research and evaluation, consultancy, facilitation, & writing. "Alternatives Beyond Psychiatry" Speaking of writing, I had the considerable and rather unexpected honour of an invitation to write a chapter for a new survivor/service user book. The invite came from Peter Lehmann in Germany, who is one of the leading survivor publishers in the world. peter-lehmann-publishing.com Sixty-one survivor writers from around the world have contributed articles, covering areas such as Actual Alternatives, Realising Alternatives and Humane Treatment, Why We Need Alternatives to Psychiatry. The whole work is edited by Peter Lehmann and Peter Stastny. My contribution-Preparing People for User Involvement work in Health and Social Care - finds me rubbing shoulders with the likes of Jan Wallcraft, Marius Romme, Phil Thomas, David Oaks, Rufus May, Maths Jesperson and Tina Coldham. So you can see why I was so excited to be asked. Inspecting Again I spent a number of years involved in clinical governance inspectionsfor the Commission for Health Care Audit & Improvement - the Healthcare Commission as it has become known. That work, as part of truly multi-disciplinary teams where service user was one of the disciplines, was interesting, demanding and hugely enjoyable. After the Commission's massive transformation, the service user/survivor input was considerably reduced. I missed that role. Recently Mind has been able to enter into a contract with the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) to look at the experience of residents in care homes and similar establishments. I was chosen as one of Mind's 'Experts by Experience' to assist the inspectors from CSCI in maintaining the quality and continuous improvement of such provision. I have visited homes across the North West. I have met lots of really great people living in those homes and have to say most of them tell me their experiences in the homes have been positive. Open Up One of the projects to which I have devoted much of my time this year is Open Up the anti-discrimination campaign from Mental Health Media. Not only have I carried out my existing role as the Open Up co-ordinator for the North West, but I have filled in as co-ordinator for the North East to cover a colleague's sick leave and have been one of Open Up's trainers. The training courses have gone from 'Fundamentals: Challenging Discrimination in Everyday Life' through 'Training the Trainers: preparing other people to deliver Open Up materials' to 'Communications & Media Skills'. I have worked in Carlisle, Wakefield, Leeds, Harrow, and Muswell Hill. In Carlisle and Wakefield I have helped to establish mentoring groups to provide continued support for people who have been through Open Up's training and others who want to challenge discrimination in their own chosen ways. If you know anyone who may want to be involved in Open Up ask them to contact me. Open Up Mental Health Media's anti-discrimination project. More info at http://www.openuptoolkit.org.uk On the other hand . . . It was not all plain sailing through 2007, of course. I applied for work as a sessional interviewer for the IBsEN (Individual Budgets Evaluation Network) project, evaluating the national pilot of individual budgets.The work is 'right up my street'. The management at the Social Policy Research Unit of York University administering IBSeN decided that events from over 30 years ago in my CRB disclosure made me unsuitable for the work. I have often made CRB disclosures and never before been refused work. A contact at Nacro-the crime reduction charity described the decision as ". . one of the most concerning and disappointing cases I have dealt with. . Discrimination of many kinds is alive and well and dwells in some unexpected places. Individual Budgets are a great idea, but I have my doubts about the associated evaluation network's management. Oldham Open User Forum I was able to do some work on my own doorstep in 2007 when the local independent service user group was kind enough to invite me to design and deliver some developmental training to their members. The sessions covered: Feedback & listening skills, contributing effectively to meetings, making meetings effective, involving people, understanding and getting involved in partnerships, and problems within groups. There was a small and lively group of participants and we had a lot of fun along the way. And the rest! Other customers I enjoyed working with in 2007 included: Citizens as Trainers in Salford, The Odd Theatre Company, People First Housing Association, and Shaping Our Lives. University Life As always I am grateful to my contacts at the Universities which give me occasional lecturing work. The Universities of Salford, Hull and Manchester are always great places to work and the welcome is always warm. I am delighted to say that the finance departments are now able to pay my invoices promptly. The amounts involved have not improved much, but hey, you cannot have everything! I took part in one of my most satisfying projects at Manchester, a mapping exercise of the service user and carer involvement in the education within the Mental Health Nursing Division. As a result, the project was showcased at the Authenticity into Action: Involving Service Users and Carers in Higher Education conference in November organised by the University of Central Lancashire. Sadly I was unable to attend in person, but my thanks go to my collaborators who did. January Sales I find myself with spare capacity during January, February & March 2008. I am offering large discounts from my usual fees for work commissioned in this period. Let me know if I can help you. Let your colleagues and contacts know if I can help them. I send all customers my heartfelt thanks for their past support and look forward to providing you with more high quality services in future. HAPPY NEW YEAR Survivor Services training, research, consultancy, facilitation, writing & other services at their best. For more information contact Andrew Hughes 60 Curlew Road OLDHAM OL4 5NS Tel: +44(0)7981 706498 andrew@survivorservices.com 4. Recent Publication on Deaf Students in Higher Education (a) Barnes, L., Harrington, F., Williams, J., and Atherton, M. (2007) Deaf Students in Higher Education: Current Research and Practice. Forest Books Ltd. No single book currently available in either the U.K. or the U.S. brings together such a blend of theory, research and practice in relation to the support of deaf students in higher education. The range of contributors, their national and international reputations in this field, and the innovative nature of the diverse materials gathered here will ensure this volume's place as an indispensable resource. Focusing predominantly on the U.K., this book will also be relevant to a wider international audience in a field seeking to establish global networks. The model of support developing in the U.K. and described in these chapters, represents a significant shift in practice, from that founded on the now widely discredited medical perspective, to one reflecting a social framework. In the U.S., the catalyst for this change has been the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, whilst in the U.K., this shift is mirrored in the Disability Discrimination Act, 1995, most notably within Part IV (Special Educational Needs and Disability Act :2001, enforced 2002), which requires educational institutions to monitor entry, progression and outcomes for deaf students. In the wake of this, it is expected that deaf students will enter a wider range of institutions in increasing numbers. The consequent demand for these establishments to become inclusive, proactive, consultative and anticipatory in their support for deaf students will ensure that this book is welcomed as comprehensive and essential reading. With contributions from researchers and practitioners, and including personal testimony from undergraduate and postgraduate deaf students, this volume offers illuminating and fresh perspectives on the many elements of good practice and quality provision. (Paperback 288 pages October 2007) The book is available from Forest Books at: http://www.forestbooks.com/pages/Categories/Books/0946252645.html For queries and further information please contact Lynne Barnes, Co-ordinator (Deaf Studies). Email:lbarnes@uclan.ac.uk Telephone: +44 (0)1772-893098 (Voice/Text) 5. News from University of Salford, A Greater Manchester University Contact: David Race (D.G.Race@salford.ac.uk) We are offering agencies the chance to send key people to attend one or both of two 2day sessions given by John O’Brien Sessions run on 21st/22nd February and 24th/25th April 2008 * Attend the first two days (£280) or all four (£550) – price includes lunch and refreshments * Discounts are available for three or more people from the same agency – (£230 per person for first two days, £450 for all four) * To register you interest, please complete the form provided and send it to the CPD Unit at: Faculty CPD Unit, Faculty of Health & Social Care University of Salford, Allerton Building Frederick Road, Salford M6 6PU Telephone: 0161 295 7012/7014 Fax: 0161 295 7173 Email: cpdunitfhsc@salford.ac.uk Individualised budgets – New Ways of Working A master class by John O’Brien - International Consultant and one of the originators of Person Centred Planning What is on offer? - The master class forms part of an MA module Organising to Encourage Effective Direct Support which is one element in the MA in Learning Disability Studies at the University of Salford. Although the module focuses on services to people with learning disabilities the issues explored are relevant to all social care services. - With leading international consultant John O’Brien, you will be able to explore issues arising from the move to individualised funding, the service principles identified in Valuing People and subsequent social care policies, including New Ways of Working. - It examines how different service models, organisational designs and managerial and professional practices affect direct service work, and how these may need to change as individualised funding becomes a reality in services for all vulnerable people. - After the first 2 day workshop exploring the principles involved, with examples from John’s wide experience, students spend the time between February and April examining the organization of direct service and other support for particular individuals, and return to give a presentation at the start of the second session. John then leads a more detailed discussion with the group exploring the impact of the principles on organisational practice. - Those attending from agencies are encouraged to take a full part in the exploration of ideas on both of the 2 day workshops, and think of how to apply the ideas in their own settings, thus contributing to the second workshop. You are not, however, required to attend the facilitation day between the sessions that the MA students undertake – it is therefore possible to attend for the first of the 2day sessions, or both, but not just the second. Certificates of attendance will be provided I wish to attend, as a master class participant, the module “Organising to Encourage Effective Direct Support” * For the first two-day session only (21st /22nd Feb)—£280 (or £230 pp for groups of 3 or more) * For both two day sessions (21st /22nd Feb and 24 th /25th April)—£550 (or £ 450 pp for groups of 3 or more) I enclose deposit of £50 per person, refundable only if cancellation is made more than one month before the module OR Please invoice the organisation below for the deposit/full amount (Please provide full information as requested when responding) Name(s) Organization: ................................................................................. Address: .......................................................................................................... ........................................................................................................... Telephone: .................................................................................... Email:............................................................................................. 6. The Disability Studies Association E-Newsletter's Success Stories (a) Comments and Questions from Carol Hamilton (hamiltca@tcd.ie) I keep reading the newsletters you send out but I am still trying to find the time to report what we are doing here in Ireland ... and I do need to do that, and I have noted the date for the next submission... But I have a couple of questions for you, if that's ok. Learning disability research initiatives in Ireland are somewhat uncoordinated and I am not sure if anyone really knows who is currently doing what. We were wondering if we should set up something similar to your e-newsletter over here in this disability area, in an effort to bring some very disparate groups together and to try and develop an overview of initiatives. My questions are: 1. Do you get paid for what you do? 2. How long does it take you to edit/upload comments? 3. How much computer literacy would be needed to edit such an e-newsletter? Anything else you think of that might be useful pointers for us to think about for this possible project would be most welcome. Also merry xmas to you as well, and congratulations on yr recent PhD success! Editor's Response: Assistance was provided to Carol and she appreciated the suggestions from the editor. I am therefore challenging and encouraging disability researchers, academics, students in Ireland to take this opportunity to come together and have coordinated disability research initiatives. (b) Some Positive Comments from Axel Kaehne (kaehnea@cardiff.ac.uk) This may be an opportunity to publicise the Centre's courses. Quite a few universities do this even from abroad on this monthly newsletter. I publicised the PSA Group and got a good response. Let me know if you want me to help. Editor's Comments: Thank you Axel for the positive comments about our newsletter, and also by expanding its readership to other people. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++   NB: A copy of this Newsletter is available at: http://www.breakthrough-uk.com/DRN.shtml ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ END OF NEWSLETTER For any further contributions and information contact: Tsitsi Chataika  - Editor Email: t.chataika@yahoo.co.uk Tel/Fax: +44113 293 8749 or +4479 03859902 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 1