First published in 1997 , Dorothy Atkinson collects testimonies of the personal perspectives of people with learning disability in order to rediscover the histories of people with learning disabilities. Calling on the importance if auto/biographical research as mode to encourage social, historical awareness and potential understanding of the commonalities as well the differences between people with learning difficulties.

One claim made for the policy of care in the community was that it would rescue people with intellectual disabilities from social marginality. To what extent has this promise been fulfilled and their lives transformed? David May presents the lives of people from this group as a series of transitions and offers us a view of the world that is as complex and changeable as any other. Each section covers a different aspect of choice, opportunity and transition on the lifepath, for example, * moving from home to school * leaving school * employment * living independently and * growing old The contributors have extensive research experience in the field of intellectual disabilities and provide a comprehensive review of this research, drawing out the implications for policy and practice. This book will be an invaluable resource for professionals and carers working with those with intellectual disabilities, as well as their families.

'This book provides a fascinating vignette of the personal experiences of People with Learning Disabilities for the better (or worse) part of the last century. What makes the book so interesting is actually meeting some of those involved and seeing their stories in print. It flags up what has been achieved so far, and what still needs to be done.' - Oral History 'The editors of this book, written by a range of authors form the UK and overseas, set out to provide the reader with an understanding of the ways in which people with learning disabilities direct their lives through advocacy. Its strength lies in the way in which it puts to the forefront the voices of those who have been, and still might be, excluded from society if it were not for the different forms of resistance they have engaged in.' - Professional Social Work 'The accounts are all of acts of resistance and survival, many of them told by the people themselves. This creates another fascinating book which contributes greatly to an appreciation of the role of people with learning difficulties themselves in the historical struggle for better treatment in society.' - CommunityLiving 'This book explains how people with learning disabilities have become increasingly able to direct their own lives as fully active members of their communities. It also explains what self-advocacy means for these people and it shows how opportunities and services have changed for them in 10 years.' - Europe for Us! 'Heartbreaking, touching and at times inspirational, this book introduces us to the people who have been oppressed, the system that oppressed them and the individuals who stood up to them...Read this if you are involved in supporting people and you will find yourself addressing your practice and attitudes and ultimately, improving the quality of care you deliver.' - Community Care 'The accounts are all of acts of resistance and survival, many of them told by the people themselves. This creates another fascinating book which contributes greatly to an appreciation of the role of people with learning difficulties themselves in the historical struggle for better treatment in society.' - Community Living Exploring Experiences of Advocacy by People with Learning Disabilities charts the course through which people with learning disabilities have become increasingly able to direct their own lives as fully active members of their communities. Accounts from the UK, Australia, Canada and Iceland consider both the individual pioneers of self advocacy and local and national groups that have been set up to work actively towards improved services for people with learning disabilities. The book also examines what self-advocacy means for these people and provides an overview of how opportunities and services have changed for them over the decades. Many of the personal accounts, photographs and songs included in this book will be accessible and encouraging to people with learning disabilities, and they will provide inspiring reading for professionals who work with them, family members and community and government service providers.

The authors discuss participative approaches to research and provide an up-to-date account of inclusive practice with individuals with learning disabilities. Drawing on evidence from two major studies, they explain how lessons learnt from inclusive research in the learning disability field are applicable to others working with marginalized groups.

Biographical research may take a range of forms and may vary in its application and approach but has the unified and coherent aim to give ′voice′ to individuals. The central concern of this collection is to assemble articles (from sociology, social psychology, education, health, criminology, social gerontology, epidemiology, management and organizational research) that illustrate the full range of debates, methods and techniques that can be combined under the heading ′biographical research′. Volume One: Biographical Research: Starting Points, Debates and Approaches explores the different biographical methods currently used while locating these within the history of social science methods. Volume Two: Biographical Interviews, Oral Histories and Life Narratives focuses on the more established, interview-based, biographical research methods and considers the analytical strategies used for interview-based biographical research Volume Three: Forms of Life Writing: Letters, Diaries and Auto/Biography considers the value of ′data′ contained within letters, diaries and auto/biography and illustrates how this data has been analyzed to reveal biographies and their social context. Volume Four: Other Documents of Life: Photographs, Cyber Documents and Ephemera focuses on the ′other′ human documents and objects, like photographs, cyber-documents (emails, blogs, social networking sites, webpages) and other ephemera (such as official documents) that are used extensively in biographical research.

'Learning Disability' uses a life-cycle approach to show how those with learning disabilities can he helped most at different stages in their lives.

People with learning difficulties are considerably more likely to experience sexual violence than non-disabled people, and for this reason they are often described as 'vulnerable'. However, the use of this label can in fact increase risk. This book argues that by seeing adults with learning difficulties as vulnerable and in need of protection, they are stripped of their autonomy and left with fewer skills that are needed to protect themselves from harm. Their different treatment, such as segregation and over-protection, can in fact increase their 'vulnerability'. The author discusses a range of social processes, such as sex education, self-determination, friendships, sexual relationships and social inclusion, and examines the risk and benefits associated with each. Drawing on the everyday experiences of 29 adults with learning difficulties, the author illustrates how people with learning difficulties can be capable of safeguarding themselves from harm, and makes a range of suggestions for enabling them to become better equipped at managing risk themselves. This book will be essential reading for practitioners working with people with learning difficulties, as well as students and academics in the fields of disability and social work.