Overview of an ESRC funded seminar series where people with learning disabilities, practitioners and researchers came together to explore and share their understandings of the concept of "access"

1. Exploring concepts of access for people with learning difficulties: Making “good things” happen or preventing “bad things” from happening? Dr Jane Seale, PCET presentation 23 January 2007

12. Emerging concepts

13. What kind of access do people with learning difficulties want? REAL AND GENUINE EQUITABLE (Same as other people) HOLISTIC (Across all areas of life) MEANINGFUL (Authentic and of personal importance) SUSTAINED AND PROGRESSIVE (Permanent and on-going)

14. What is involved in getting access? HAVING CONTROL TAKING RISKS (The chance to fail) HAVING OPPORTUNITIES (The chance to succeed) MAKING CHOICES (On own terms) BEING ABLE TO COMMUNICATE (To speak and to be heard) HAVING RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES (Awareness) BEING READY AND PREPARED (Learning and practising)

15. Risk avoidance approach to granting or facilitating access RISK AVERSIVE INTERFERING LOW EXPECTATIONS OF SUCCESS BUREAUCRATIC HIGHLY PLANNED INFLEXIBLE

16. Risk embracing approach to granting or facilitating access RISK EMBRACING EXPERTLY JUDGED? HIGH EXPECTATIONS OF SUCCESS TRUST PREPARED TO TAKE A LEAP OF FAITH FLEXIBLE CO-OPERATIVE TOLERANT OF SERENDIPITY

21. Dr Jane Seale, Post-Compulsory Education and Training (PCET) Research Group, University of Southampton [email_address] http://janekseale.blogspot.com/