Independence or Protection - does it have to be a choice? Reflections on the abuse people with learning disabilities in Cornwall
This commentary will use recent events in Cornwall to highlight the ongoing abuse of adults with learning disabilities in England. It will critically explore how two parallel policy agendas – namely, the promotion of choice and independence for adults with learning disabilities and the development o...
| Main Authors: | , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Published: |
Sage Publications
2007
|
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/767/ |
| _version_ | 1848790476666175488 |
|---|---|
| author | Fyson, Rachel Kitson, Deborah |
| author_facet | Fyson, Rachel Kitson, Deborah |
| author_sort | Fyson, Rachel |
| building | Nottingham Research Data Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | This commentary will use recent events in Cornwall to highlight the ongoing abuse of adults with learning disabilities in England. It will critically explore how two parallel policy agendas – namely, the promotion of choice and independence for adults with learning disabilities and the development of adult protection policies – have failed to connect, thus allowing abuse to continue to flourish. It will be argued that the abuse of people with learning disabilities can only be minimised by policies which reflect an understanding that choice and independence must necessarily be mediated by effective adult protection measures. Such protection needs to include not only an appropriate regulatory framework, access to justice and well-qualified staff, but also a more critical and reflective approach to the current orthodoxy which promotes choice and independence as the only acceptable goals for any person with a learning disability. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-14T18:13:13Z |
| format | Article |
| id | nottingham-767 |
| institution | University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus |
| institution_category | Local University |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-14T18:13:13Z |
| publishDate | 2007 |
| publisher | Sage Publications |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | nottingham-7672020-05-04T16:26:54Z https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/767/ Independence or Protection - does it have to be a choice? Reflections on the abuse people with learning disabilities in Cornwall Fyson, Rachel Kitson, Deborah This commentary will use recent events in Cornwall to highlight the ongoing abuse of adults with learning disabilities in England. It will critically explore how two parallel policy agendas – namely, the promotion of choice and independence for adults with learning disabilities and the development of adult protection policies – have failed to connect, thus allowing abuse to continue to flourish. It will be argued that the abuse of people with learning disabilities can only be minimised by policies which reflect an understanding that choice and independence must necessarily be mediated by effective adult protection measures. Such protection needs to include not only an appropriate regulatory framework, access to justice and well-qualified staff, but also a more critical and reflective approach to the current orthodoxy which promotes choice and independence as the only acceptable goals for any person with a learning disability. Sage Publications 2007-08-01 Article PeerReviewed Fyson, Rachel and Kitson, Deborah (2007) Independence or Protection - does it have to be a choice? Reflections on the abuse people with learning disabilities in Cornwall. Critical Social Policy, 27 (3). pp. 181-186. ISSN 0261-0183 Learning disability; abuse; adult protection; choice; independence |
| spellingShingle | Learning disability; abuse; adult protection; choice; independence Fyson, Rachel Kitson, Deborah Independence or Protection - does it have to be a choice? Reflections on the abuse people with learning disabilities in Cornwall |
| title | Independence or Protection - does it have to be a choice? Reflections on the abuse people with learning disabilities in Cornwall |
| title_full | Independence or Protection - does it have to be a choice? Reflections on the abuse people with learning disabilities in Cornwall |
| title_fullStr | Independence or Protection - does it have to be a choice? Reflections on the abuse people with learning disabilities in Cornwall |
| title_full_unstemmed | Independence or Protection - does it have to be a choice? Reflections on the abuse people with learning disabilities in Cornwall |
| title_short | Independence or Protection - does it have to be a choice? Reflections on the abuse people with learning disabilities in Cornwall |
| title_sort | independence or protection - does it have to be a choice? reflections on the abuse people with learning disabilities in cornwall |
| topic | Learning disability; abuse; adult protection; choice; independence |
| url | https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/767/ |