The Social Care Experts Blog: Autism Archives

Bereavement and autism: the value of reminiscing

By Adam McCulloch on September 20, 2009 7:22 AM | 1 Comment | No TrackBacks

Working with a bereaved service user, Jennifer Harvey, finds the true value of photo albums as opposed to digital pictures

"I'm fine aren't I, and my dad's fine" is a regular refrain from Dave*. Ever since his mum died he's been obsessed with his own mortality, and that of his dad. You might say it comes to us all, but when you have autism it's a harder lesson to learn.
As changes go, the death of a parent is a big one, particularly when you still depend on that parent for everyday support. Dave's parents thought ahead and encouraged him to be independent, and to live in his own flat nearby.

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Why John was ignored by his neighbours

By Adam McCulloch on August 7, 2009 11:23 AM | No Comments | No TrackBacks

Jennifer Harvey reflects on how living in the community with a mental health problem can see people isolated and shunned

You wouldn't want to be John. Living alone in a run-down council flat, up a steep hill from the bus stop, a laborious 10-minute challenge to his arthritic knees.
There's never a friendly word from a neighbour. They either hammer on the door and complain at his screams of anguish and frustration, or they're so scared they keep well out of the way and call the housing department.

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Illusion of Indepence

By Gary on February 18, 2009 8:29 AM | No Comments | No TrackBacks

by Steve Rogowski

Personalisation does not have its roots in social work, but in the reforms of the Thatcher era which New Labour has embraced

The Social Care Institute for Excellence has recently argued that personalisation originates from social work values such as respect for the individual and self-determination. It also argued that direct payments had their roots in the service user movement and the social model of disability with notions of participation, control, choice and empowerment being to the fore.

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Films about disability: the keys to understanding

By Keith Sellick on October 22, 2008 11:39 AM | 2 Comments | No TrackBacks

By Simon Heng

Many big screen potrayals of disability have upbeat endings but one Italian film allows viewers to make up their own minds

Depictions of disability in the media are so rare that when disabled people are shown in films or on television, you can be sure that the programme-maker is out to make a point. Even if that point is that there are so few disabled people shown on the screen.

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