Conferences
There is Another Way
ASL Annual Conference 2011
In conjunction with the Campaign for a Fair Society
Supported Living – Welfare Reform
Models of Service – Another Way
24 November 2011
Manchester Conference Centre
Speakers included:
Simon Duffy – Director, Centre for Welfare Reform
Tom Noon – Chairman, Cordis Bright Consulting
Katie & Nadia Clarke – Calderdale Parent & Carers Council
Alicia Wood – Housing Options
The Association for Supported Living (ASL) conference is one of the larger and longer established conferences on the UK learning disability conference circuit. This year’s conference took place in Manchester on 24 November.
The usual focus of the conference is to promote Supported Living for people with learning disabilities. This year, due to the unprecedented level of cuts to public services, mainly borne by the most disadvantaged members of society, the ASL teamed up with the Campaign for a Fair Society and part of the theme of the conference was providing Supported Living in the context of significant cuts to a range of benefits and services and how the welfare benefit system could be reformed to make it fairer for all. In response to the cuts the ASL commissioned Housing Options to write and publish a Rights Handbook and this was launched at the conference.
At the end of May, whilst the conference was being planned, the nation witnessed evidence of terrible abuse to people with learning disabilities in a private hospital near Bristol, broadcast on a BBC Panorama programme. The ASL responded immediately – writing to all MPs about alternatives based on best practice. The ASL report “There is an alternative” will provide examples of people who potentially present significant challenging behaviours but who are successfully supported in Supported Living Services, and this will be submitted to the government to demonstrate a credible and cost-effective alternative to expensive and isolated institutions. These case studies were made available to conference attendees and a number of the conference workshops demonstrated steps that can be taken to ensure services are safe for people using them.
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All enquiries please contact: 020 8418 3472
janet.brazendale@heritagecare.co.uk
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