Over the last three decades, a number of reforms have taken place in European social policy with an impact on the opportunities for persons with disabilities to be full and active members of society. The policy reforms have aimed to change the balance between citizens' rights and duties and the opportunities to enjoy choice and autonomy, live in the community and participate in political decision-making processes of importance for one's life. How do the reforms influence the opportunities to exercise Active Citizenship? This volume presents the findings from the first cross-national comparison of how persons with disabilities reflexively make their way through the world, pursuing their own interests and values. The volume considers how their experiences, views and aspirations regarding participation vary across Europe. Based on retrospective life-course interviews, the volume examines the scope for agency on the part of persons with disabilities, i.e. the extent to which men and women with disabilities are able to make choices and pursue lives they have reasons to value. Drawing on structuration theory and the capability approach, the volume investigates the opportunities for exercising Active Citizenship among men and women in nine European countries. The volume identifies the policy implications of a process-oriented and multi-dimensional approach to Active Citizenship in European disability policy. It will appeal to policymakers and policy officials, as well as to researchers and students of disability studies, comparative social policy, international disability law and qualitative research methods.

Over the last three decades, a number of reforms have taken place in European social policy with an impact on the opportunities for persons with disabilities to be full and active members of society. The policy reforms have aimed to change the balance between citizens' rights and duties and the opportunities to enjoy choice and autonomy, live in the community and participate in political decision-making processes of importance for one's life. How do the reforms influence the opportunities to exercise Active Citizenship? This volume presents the findings from the first cross-national comparison of how persons with disabilities reflexively make their way through the world, pursuing their own interests and values. The volume considers how their experiences, views and aspirations regarding participation vary across Europe. Based on retrospective life-course interviews, the volume examines the scope for agency on the part of persons with disabilities, i.e. the extent to which men and women with disabilities are able to make choices and pursue lives they have reasons to value. Drawing on structuration theory and the capability approach, the volume investigates the opportunities for exercising Active Citizenship among men and women in nine European countries. The volume identifies the policy implications of a process-oriented and multi-dimensional approach to Active Citizenship in European disability policy. It will appeal to policymakers and policy officials, as well as to researchers and students of disability studies, comparative social policy, international disability law and qualitative research methods.

Active Support is a proven model of care that enables and empowers people with intellectual disabilities to participate fully in all aspects of their lives. This evidence-based approach is particularly effective for working with people with more severe disabilities, and is of growing interest to those responsible for providing support and services. The authors provide a comprehensive overview of Active Support and how it can be used in practice, based on the theory and research underpinning the methods involved. They describe how to engage people with intellectual disabilities in meaningful activity as active participants, and look at the communication style needed to foster positive relationships between carers and the people they are supporting. Highlighting the main issues for those trying to put Active Support into practice, they explain what is needed on a day-to-day basis to support the implementation, improvement and maintenance of the approach, along with possible solutions for the difficulties they may encounter. Finally, they look at how to integrate Active Support with other person-centred approaches, drawing on examples from various organisations and individual case studies. The definitive text on Active Support, this book will be essential reading for anyone professionally concerned with the quality of life of people with intellectual disabilities, including psychologists, behaviour specialists, social workers, care managers, occupational therapists and inspectors and regulators of services, as well as families.

A fully revised, new edition of Person-centred Active Support self-study guide, including new video. This book is designed to provide the learner with knowledge about what active support is, why it is important, what it looks like in practice, and some of the key facts around what is needed for success. This book is designed for people to follow as self-study or as part of a training programme. It includes videos and exercises to promote independent thinking and learning. It is available in hard copy and digital formats and provides about 5 to 7 hours of learning, with a certificate of completion. A copy of this guide also comes as part of the Person-centred Active Support multi-media training resource, which uses the information in this book as the script and guide for a classroom-based training programme. This new book will be of interest for anyone working in intellectual and developmental disability support and accommodation services, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, behavioural specialists, speech and language therapists, learning disability nurses, teachers and teaching assistants, family members, day service staff and students.

This self-study guide provides a self-study route through the SPELL framework and supporting people on the autistic spectrum using a person-centred approach that also promotes neurodiversity. The book guides the reader through the materials and when to watch particular videos and do the various exercises and activities. A copy of the book is also included in the Understanding and Responding to Autism: The SPELL Framework 2nd edition Training Pack as it mirrors the trainer's script from the pack and provides the background information needed to run the training, provided in a convenient format. It includes audio files, videos and exercises to promote independent thinking and learning. The aim is to promote understanding of autism and to help people provide person-centred support to children and adults on the autism spectrum. This revision will elaborate on the SPELL framework as a way to both understand and support children and adults on the autism spectrum.