Articles

Citizen Network members share ideas, stories and writings on how to advance citizenship for real.

Article: 16.09.15 Power and Love Simon Duffy explores what we can learn from intentional communities such as L'Arche and Camphill.
Article: 13.09.15 Lessons from Intentional Communities John O'Brien reflects on what social care can learn from communities such as L'Arche and Camphill.
Article: 24.08.15 From Basic Income to Social Dividend Rajesh Makwana argues that it’s time to broaden the debate on how to fund a universal basic income to protect the…
Article: 24.08.15 Learning Disability is Not a Mental Disorder Robin Jackson asks why in Scottish law people with learning disabilities are treated as if they have a mental disorder.
Article: 21.07.15 Localism: As If People Mattered Laird Ryan calls for localism to be brought back to the grassroots where it truly belongs.
Article: 15.07.15 Supporting Staff in Person-Centred Work Sam Sly explores how to support staff in person-centred services when money is tight.
Article: 06.07.15 Assuming Capacity Sam Sly underlines the importance of assuming capacity to ensure people with learning disabilities get the best…
Article: 02.07.15 Open Letter to Iain Duncan Smith An Open Letter to Iain Duncan Smith from prominent Catholics concerned at welfare reform.
Article: 25.05.15 Private Good, Public Bad The prevailing fiction of our times is that the private sector is better at running things than the public sector,…
Article: 12.05.15 History of Keys to Citizenship Sam Sly describes where the Keys to Citizenship came from and how they've changed over time.
Article: 08.04.15 Poverty UK Simon Duffy explores the politics behind poverty in the UK today.
Article: 31.03.15 Taxing a Tax - The Impact of Secret Tory Cuts Jim Elder-Woodward reflects on the way in which the further targeting of disabled people also impacts the Care or…
Article: 25.03.15 The Threat of Micro-Institutionalisation Robin Jackson explains why people with learning disabilities are threatened by a growing trend to…
Article: 04.03.15 Inside Supported Living Melanie O'Neil describes her time as a support worker for people with learning disabilities in a 'supported living'…
Article: 24.02.15 Stop Worrying About Risk Stephen Finlayson argues it is time to use ordinary language that creates ordinary responses, to stop worrying about…
Article: 23.02.15 LDA England Survey A breakdown of the results from the recent Quality Checking Government survey carried out by Learning Disability…
Article: 16.02.15 Is Work Good? Simon Duffy reflects on the nature of work and whether it is always a good thing.
Article: 09.02.15 Rethinking National Security Henry Tam asks why, if we are so interested in security, do we define it so narrowly.
Article: 05.01.15 Accessible Banking Meike Beckford sets out how Dosh are using their experience to improve access to banking and thereby make a real…
Article: 14.10.14 Open Letter on Regulation An Open Letter to David Behan (Head of Regulation) and Norman Lamb (lead politician) on the danger of relying on…
Article: 22.09.14 Just Not Fair Jane Young, the author of Dignity and Opportunity for All gives an overview of this critical report, published by Just…
Article: 19.09.14 Travels in Human-Based Development Pete Richmond sets out what we can learn from Manavodaya a development organisation based in India and the UK, in…
Article: 18.09.14 The Economic Necessity of Basic Income Economist Geoff Crocker argues that the current economic system is based on flawed thinking and that a new system…
Article: 15.09.14 Person Centred Planning 'Tools' Peter Kinsella reviews his time working in human services and examines the negative role of jargon, complexity and…
Article: 25.08.14 The Problem with Dawkins' Intolerance on Down Syndrome Mariana Cervantes-Burchell explains why the intolerant prejudice of scientists like Richard Dawkins is based on…
Article: 20.08.14 Assessment and Treatment Units Sam Sly shares her learning through helping people to leave ATUs and return to a real life and a home of their own in the…
Article: 20.08.14 Don't Judge Me, Listen Sam Sly urges us to really listen to people's dreams and desires when supporting them to build a future for themselves,…
Article: 20.08.14 The Harm Professionals Can Do Too often people's gifts and skills are being ignored when professionals plan with them, there is no excuse, this must…
Article: 20.08.14 Quality Checkers are the Future of Regulation Sam Sly shares her enthusiasm for the creation of a National Association of Quality Checkers.
Article: 20.08.14 Rethinking Social Housing Social housing isn’t working for the people Beyond Limits support who have been institutionalised for years in…
Article: 26.06.14 Pro-Innovation NDIS How NDIS could be developed to promote, not hinder, social innovation.
Article: 26.06.14 Erm This Is Awkward Matthew Edmonds suggests that we don't need pat responses to break down barriers between disabled and non-disabled…
Article: 22.06.14 Help - What It Really Means People with learning disabilities often get help that isn't very helpful. Wendy Perez explains what help really…
Article: 16.06.14 Self-Directed Support is a Scottish Innovation Simon Duffy explores the Scottish roots of SDS or self-directed support.
Article: 14.04.14 Next Steps on a Cumulative Impact Assessment (CIA) Simon Duffy explores the possibility of developing an even more rigorous assessment of how cuts have targeted…
Article: 11.04.14 What Price Friendship? Paul Williams describes how the UK's social care system often seems to obstruct the development of friendships for…
Article: 10.04.14 Discrimination Against Disabled Employers Jim Elder-Woodward explains to the Prime Minister the gross injustice of giving subsidies to employers, unless they…
Article: 10.04.14 Sharing Our Gifts - Lessons for Social Work Mark Harvey describes how understanding your own community gifts and assets will make you a better practitioner.
Article: 09.04.14 Are There No Limits for Markets? Civitas Vera provide an insightful critique into the limitations of the market in policy and real life.
Article: 08.04.14 Access to Work - Eventually Nadia Clarke describes her success at finding work as a young disabled and deaf woman, and the challenge of getting…
Article: 01.04.14 Joining up Community Involvement Gabriel Chanan and Colin Miller explain how to strengthen local communities without abandoning public services and…
Article: 01.04.14 Divide and Conquer Social Work by Education Tanya Moore offers a critique of the latest changes to social work education.
Article: 18.03.14 Mental Health is Everyone's Business Carolyn Barber introduces her new book The Layperson’s Guide to Good Mental Health: Your A-Z for a Happier Life.
Article: 17.03.14 How to Fund a Universal Basic Income Malcolm Henry sets out an argument for a Universal Basic Income based on his analysis of the failings of the banking…
Article: 03.03.14 Listening Up to Poverty Simon Duffy reflects on the stories he heard at a conference on poverty and welfare reform.
Article: 02.03.14 Right to the Same Life Wendy Perez says people with learning (intellectual) disabilities have the right to the same life as the rest of us.
Article: 25.02.14 Spartacus Network Spartacus is a network of sick & disabled people who use social media to highlight the impact of the UK Government's…
Article: 14.02.14 Reforming NDIS Simon Schwab outlines the principles that should underpin the reform of NDIS.
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