1,644
Views
9
CrossRef citations to date
0
Altmetric
Articles

The changing face of parent advocacy: a long view

, , &
Pages 1366-1386 | Received 28 Aug 2016, Accepted 13 Apr 2017, Published online: 24 May 2017
 

Abstract

This paper reviews the history of parent advocacy in the UK on behalf of and with people with learning disabilities since the mid-twentieth century and reflects on the role of the academy in illuminating and documenting its story. It argues that parent advocacy has flourished at times of change and challenge, and has seen a revival since austerity began to bite. In the twenty-first century parent advocacy has mutated into working with, rather than for people with learning disabilities, a development to be welcomed, given the cuts to services, and the impact of ‘welfare reform’. This once more united voice is manifested in the launch of Learning Disability England in June 2016.

Notes

1. We use the term ‘parent advocacy’ in this article for consistency, but appreciate that other family members have often been at the centre of the movement also.

2. The BBC broadcast a programme in 2011 which had been filmed undercover at a residential care home near Bristol, England. In it care workers were shown routinely physically and emotionally abusing residents, all of whom had a learning disability. Eleven care workers were subsequently sentenced after admitting 38 charges of neglect and abuse.

Log in via your institution

Log in to Taylor & Francis Online

PDF download + Online access

  • 48 hours access to article PDF & online version
  • Article PDF can be downloaded
  • Article PDF can be printed
USD 53.00 Add to cart

Issue Purchase

  • 30 days online access to complete issue
  • Article PDFs can be downloaded
  • Article PDFs can be printed
USD 479.00 Add to cart

* Local tax will be added as applicable

Related Research

People also read lists articles that other readers of this article have read.

Recommended articles lists articles that we recommend and is powered by our AI driven recommendation engine.

Cited by lists all citing articles based on Crossref citations.
Articles with the Crossref icon will open in a new tab.