Publications
This page provides links to relevant publications by various organisations - including government agencies, non-governmental organisations, academic institutions and think-tanks.
Please respect any copyright restrictions on publications listed on this page.
This page has links to publications on the following subjects:
- Improving the Life Chances of Disabled People
- Independent Living
- The state of social care in England 2006-07
- Mainstreaming Disability in the Development Agenda
- The 2006-07 User-led Organisation Events
- Mapping the capacity and potential for User-led Organisations (ULO) in England
- Access to government web sites
- Dementia
- Health care, vulnerable people & immigration policy
- Human rights and healthcare
Improving the Life Chances of Disabled People
'The [Prime Minister's] Strategy Unit was asked to provide supporting analysis and a strategic assessment of disabled people's life chances - the opportunities available to disabled people, both children and adults, to improve their quality of life.'
The Cabinet Office web site provides links to electronic versions of the report (hard copies of the report are no longer available) and various other documents relating to the report.
Independent living
Office for Disability Issues
For decades now, many within the disability movement have been claiming that independent living enhances disabled people's dignity, but that appropriate independent living services are more economical.
The Office for Disability Issues has commissioned two research reports - under the Independent Living Review - which provide vital information of concern to anyone interested in independent living:
‘Better outcomes, lower costs’ summarises existing evidence relating to savings to health and social care budgets as a result of investment in housing adaptations and housing improvements.
‘The costs and benefits of independent living’ summarises existing evidence about investment in independent living.
Both reports - in various formats - are available on the ODI web site 'publications page'; please follow this link and scroll down the page for 'Independent Living Report'.
The state of social care in England 2006-07
Commission for Social Care Inspection 29 January 2008
The Commission for Social Care Inspection published its third annual report on the state of Social Care to Parliament.
Whilst those who qualify for local authority support are enjoying a better experience, the report highlights the growing numbers of people - many affected by the imposition of inconsistent interpretation of the rules by council staff - with unreliable and informal care, who are left to cope on their own and, in some cases, are virtually trapped in their homes.
To read press releases, the executive summary, relevant research or, indeed, the full report, follow this link to the relevant page on the Commission for Social Care Inspection web site.
Mainstreaming Disability in the Development Agenda
UN Economic and Social Council 23 November 2007
On 23 November 2007, the UN Economic and Social Council published a report on mainstreaming disability in development which can be downloaded directly, in Microsoft Word format, by following this link.
The 2006-07 User-led Organisation Events
Department of Health - 20 September 2007
"Between August 2006 and March 2007 work was done in partnership with disabled people, their families and their organisations looking at what is happening now, what is getting in the way and what is needed to make recommendation 4.3 happen."
"As part of this work, the Department of Health asked the Care Services Improvement Partnership (CSIP) to run events around the country (called ‘conversations’) bringing together disabled people, their families and their organisations. The idea was for them to share their thoughts, issues and ideas about how to make recommendation 4.3 a reality. One national and eight regional events were held and over 400 people attended."
Various versions of the report are available from the Department of Health web site: The 2006-07 User-led Organisation Events
[To learn more about Recommendation 4.3 (of the Life Chances Report) please visit this page on the Department of Health web site.]
Mapping the capacity and potential for User-led Organisations (ULO) in England
Department of Health - 19 September 2007
"This research report presents the main findings of a national research study to obtain up to date information about local User-led Organisations and Centres for Independent or Integrated Living in England."
Various versions of the report are available from the Department of Health web site: Mapping the capacity and potential for User-led Organisations (ULO) in England
Access to government web sites
National Audit Office - 13 July 2007
The National Audit Office Press Notes comments that:
"Today's report to Parliament looked at the progress made by government in delivering services and information online since the NAO last reported in 2002. Government organisations spend some 208 million on websites each year."
The National Audit Office Press Notice provides links to an executive summary and the full text of the report. Page 8 of the full report notes that:
“Up to a third of government sites may not meet modern accessibility standards for disabled or visually impaired people ['Government on the internet: progress in delivering information and services online'].”
Dementia
National Audit Office - 4 July 2007
The National Audit Office Press Notes comments that:
"Despite a steeply rising trend in cases of dementia, the condition is being given too low a priority by health and social services, according to a report out today by the National Audit Office. Too few people are being diagnosed, or being diagnosed early enough, and early interventions known to be cost-effective are not being made widely available."
'Improving services and support for people with dementia' is published by the National Audit Office. The report, an executive summary, supporting evidence and material is available by following this link.
Health care, vulnerable people & immigration policy
Médecins du Monde UK - 4 July 2007
"A new report released today by Médecins du Monde UK, endorsed by Ken Livingstone and Neil Gerrard, MP, found that measures imposed to stop so-called health tourism are actually preventing vulnerable people living in the UK, including pregnant women, from accessing vital treatment [Médecins du Monde UK]."
Read more about 'Project London' by following this link.
The first Project London report can be downloaded [in PDF format] here: 'Project: London Report'.
Human rights and healthcare
Department of Health - 19 June 2007
'On 27th March 2007 Rosie Winterton Minister of State for Health Services launched Human Rights in Healthcare - A Framework for Local Action ... to assist organisations across the NHS use a human rights based approach to help improve the way services are delivered [Department of Health web site].'