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Achieving positive change in people's lives through the National Learning Disability Strategy: an invitation to partnership between higher education and the world of practice
Author(s) -
Towell David,
Hollins Sheila
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
british journal of learning disabilities
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.633
H-Index - 39
eISSN - 1468-3156
pISSN - 1354-4187
DOI - 10.1046/j.1468-3156.2000.00086.x
Subject(s) - general partnership , public relations , learning disability , political science , good practice , public administration , economic growth , sociology , psychology , engineering ethics , engineering , psychiatry , law , economics
Summary The launch of the National Learning Disability Strategy (NLDS) in England (and parallel initiatives in Scotland and Wales) provides the best opportunity for a generation to close the huge gap between the aspirations of people with learning disabilities and their families for a full life, and most people's current experience. The implementation of the NLDS is a complex challenge, requiring new forms of partnership among a wide range of stakeholders to deliver sustainable change. The present paper describes an enhanced role for universities as champions of local progress, promoting, supporting and evaluating informed change through a range of functions which go well beyond the traditional focus on research and teaching. It is also an invitation to relevant centres, or coalitions of centres on a regional basis, to explore with people, families and public agencies the optimum form of their contribution to these new partnerships.