The impact of ideology on provision of services for people with an intellectual disability

Abstract

This paper argues that policies based on ideology have influenced and constrained planning and tied the hands of those working in the field of intellectual disability. The origins of this ideology arose from a genuine desire to abandon outdated attitudes and approaches to service delivery, including the institutionalization of vulnerable people, and to restore to them the right to live in the community and benefit from the same range and quality of services that the general population expect. However, until researchers, service planners, and health and social care professionals in the field of intellectual disability can free themselves from ideological bias, services for people with an intellectual disability will continue to struggle. It is argued that managers should be given the freedom to introduce and/or commission tailored services that meet the individually assessed needs of each client.

Keywords:

• Ideology
• Intellectual disability
• Mainstreaming
• Normalization
• Social inclusion

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Robin Jackson

Correspondence to: Robin Jackson, Karl Koenig Institute, Aberdeen and Berlin, Germany. Email: [email protected]