Young people with learning disabilities in Northern Ireland are not being supported adequately enough in their transition to adult life, according to a research report by Queen’s University, Belfast.
Entitled Don’t Box Me In: Disability and Transitions to Young Adult Life, the report presents key findings about the experiences of learning disabled young people moving into young adult life in Northern Ireland, and the delivery of support services aimed at meeting their needs.
The report makes a number of recommendations for policy and practice, including the need for coordinated prompt access to a keyworker in adult services, and a more person-centred approach to transition planning that promotes the participation of disabled young people. It also calls for targeted support to address the emotional wellbeing of disabled young people in transition, and increased opportunities for social inclusion and community participation for disabled young people.
The report formed part of the launch of The Disability Research Network. Hosted by Queen’s, the new Network is designed to stimulate debate about disability issues and develop collaborative partnerships for future research, policy and practice initiatives between academics, policymakers, practitioners, community and voluntary sector organisations.
To read the report, click here.
