Roy McConkey,
University of Ulster
Promoting the
social inclusion of
people with
learning disabilities
- an impossible
dream?
What do we
mean?
What
excludes?
Promoting
inclusion
What makes a
difference?
Creating
Social Capital
Talking to
People
Being
accepted
What does it mean to
you to be included?
More
Opportunities
Community
Activities
What do we mean by inclusion?
Number
friends
Community
Activities with
friends
Visitors to
home
Community
Activities with
staff
What do we
mean?
What
excludes?
Promoting
inclusion
Percentages no friends outside
their home
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
Supported
Living Dispersed
Supported
Living Clustered
Small Group
Home
Residential
Home
Campus
Visitors to home in past month
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
Supported
Living Dispersed
Supported
Living Clustered
Small Group
Home
Residential
Home
Campus
Mean number of
activities in last month
6
5.7
5.7
5.5
5.2
5
4.8
4.5
4.1
4
(N=132)
(N=103)
(N=152)
(N=138)
(N=95)
Clustered
Supported
Living
Dispersed
Supported
Living
Small Homes
Residential
Homes
Campus
Settings
McConkey et al, 2005
Likelihood of community
participation
Dispersed Living (5.7x)
Clustered Living (4.1x)
Small group Homes (3.8x)
Residential Homes (2.8x)
Higher Competence (2.4x)
McConkey et al, 2005
Barriers to Social Inclusion
Barriers to Social Inclusion
e.g. Poor knowledge
of the area
Staff and Management
e.g.Not allowed to go
out alone
The community
The home / scheme
Abilities and Skills
e.g. Name calling and
bullying
e.g Few community
facilities nearby
What do we
mean?
What
excludes?
Promoting
inclusion
What makes a
difference?
What makes a difference?
No
challenging
behaviours
Female
Visitors to
home
Number
friends
Activities with
friends
Can travel
independently
Sharing with
less than 4
people
Living in
dispersed
housing
Activities with
staff
Can’t travel
independentl
y
Type of goals
•Social activities
90%
•Entertainment activities
•Sport / Exercise activities
•Increasing independence
•Work or training activities
34%
29%
26%
25%
• Increasing social contacts
• Increasing contact with family
14%
10%
Percentage goals met
80
9 months later
another 9 months later
70
60
50
40
30
20
Dispersed
Supported Living
Clustered
Supported Living
Small Homes
Residential Homes
What helped
•Staff support
60
•Facility available
•Friends to go with
•Staff assistance
18
13
12
• Family support
• Own transport
7
4
What hindered?
•No plans made
•Change mind
36
27
• Facility not suitable
• Person not able
17
15
• No money
• No staff
• No friends
10
10
9
What do we
mean?
What
excludes?
Promoting
inclusion
What makes a
difference?
Creating
social capital
Percentage Outcomes Present
in samples by years
85
Interact
Friends
80
Participate
75
70
65
60
55
50
1997
1998
Gardner and Carran 2005
1999
2000
2001
2002
Staff priorities in their job
14
Care tasks
12
10
8
6
4
Social Inclusion tasks
2
0
Supported Living
1
Shared Housing
2
Day centres
3
McConkey & Collins, 2009
Nature of the relationship
Promoting
development
•Trust
•Listener
•Adviser
•Forgiving
•Insightful
Reliable
Ally
Providing
stability
Mutual
Gains
Creating Social Capital
Decision-makers
Linking
Bridging
Bonding
Woolcock and Narayan, 2000
Bridges to
Social
Inclusion
Barriers to
Social
Inclusions
Culture within Unified Sports
•Personal Development
•Inclusive and Equal Bonds
•Positive Representation
•Alliances
Culture outside Unified Sports
•Segregated lifestyles
•Negative attitudes to Intellectual Disabilities
•Low expectations
Unified Sports
Social Inclusion
Work
Education
Friends
Communication Participation
Housing
Transport
Health
Support
Staff
Service
Managers
People
with a
learning
disability
Local communities
Local
Communities
Government Policy
Further Information
r.mcconkey @ulster.ac.uk
Attributes of support staff
Listening
Trustworthy
Companion accompanies
Giving space –
respecting autonomy
Mutual
Engagement
Being with
YOU,
and for
YOU
Adviser/
Problem solver
Practical
Assistance
Creating
Opportunities
Available – goes
extra mile
Creating Communities
Developing People’s
Abilities and Skills
Awareness raising
in the community
Reviewing service
procedures and
staff roles
Greater access
to amenities