Past conferences
Past conferences |
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Here are brief descriptions of past conferences:
The 2006 conference concentrated on issues surrounding recent initiatives to help more disabled people - particularly older ones - manage their own care support and live more independently.
Steve Dowson, Director of Development at the National Development Team and an international commentator on disability affairs, called for a radical review of social care systems and he warned that ingrained assumptions could damage the development of Individual Budgets.
Amanda Sherlock, South East Regional Director of the Commission for Social Care Inspection, said the regulatory body was increasingly expecting local authorities to be creative in advancing independent living.
Liz Mandeville from the national organisation Better Government for Older People said that for many older people Self Directed Support offered essential freedom of choice and control over their care.
Pat Arculus, West Sussex County Council Cabinet Member for Adults’ Services, recognised that the success of Self Directed Support depended on access to good independent advice and support, emphasising the importance of the council's relationship with the ILA and other voluntary organisations.
The 2005 programme dealt with key issues facing the disability movement, social services and other agencies trying to deliver the government’s vision for giving disabled people more choice and control over the help they need.
West Sussex Director of Social and Caring Services John Dixon spoke of developments in Direct Payments and other forms of self-directed support.
Professor Peter Beresford of Brunel University called for changes in the relationship between social workers and service users to create a flexible partnership approach to meeting individual needs.
Anna Coss of West Sussex Social and Caring Services, with information from Skills for Care, spoke about addressing the growing shortage of personal care assistants for people needing to employ them.
Caroline Ellis of the Disability Rights Commission explored the roles of a proposed Coalition for Independent Living in West Sussex, and in particular how it could tackle the shortage of accessible housing.
The 2004 conference was opened by the president of the European Network on Independent Living, John Evans OBE, an international speaker on disability affairs.
The programme included a video showcase highlighting some real-life stories of the benefits of Direct Payments (DPs).
Dr Phil Haynes of Brighton University, who has written and researched extensively on disability affairs, highlighted the contrast between traditional social care provision and real need.
BBC business and finance reporter Marcia Hughes examined the 'business case' for DPs, highlighting substantial financial benefits for local authorities and taxpayers as well as practical advantages for users.
The 2003 conference explored the theme of making independent living a reality for disabled people.
It was opened by shadow health minister and Sussex MP Tim Loughton, who has a strong interest in disability issues, and included keynote addresses by leading figures involved in current thinking on the challenging issues surrounding disability and independent living.
BBC disability correspondent Peter White examined the growth of the disability movement in the UK and its likely future development.
Jane Campbell MBE, chair of the Social Care Institute for Excellence, explored the challenges to achieving independent living.
Frances Hasler, former co-director of the National Centre for Independent Living, outlined the increasingly important place of Direct Payments schemes in supporting independence.