| 'Mind The Gap' is a useful term which refers to the general problem that arises with the provision of services to people with a disability. It was originally coined in a Government White Paper, to emphasise the shortfalls & failure in providing services, to meet all the entitlements of people with learning difficulties and then Mental Health difficulties. It is now used much more widely, to emphasise any 'Gaps' in the provision of Community Care and the full recognition of Human Rights. It emphasises the need to provide a 'seamless' service and to avoid the risk that people with serious and disabling problems are neglected, by any agencies or profession. The Gaps that are being referred to are often those that have existed between Health and Social Care services. Just as importantly now, it is the Gaps between these general and specialist services and the wider, 'normal' Community Services. A person who is in someway 'disabled,' is able (sometimes with specialist assistance) to learn ways to adjust to their impairment (s), find alternative ways of managing their lives and operating more independently (on their own initiatives). What they may reasonably expect, and now have a clear Right to, is that the wider Community Services and Facilities are accessible to them and that the 'normal', Rights, Entitlements and Considerations be provided to them in respect of all other general and other specialist, services, resources and facilities. This is now what is understood as 'Social Inclusion' and there is a legal requirement that all community services, public bodies and commercial operations, fully respect the normal Human Rights of people who exhibit any form of disability. To this end, it is the duty of all professionals, employees & executives of public bodies and managers of commercial operations, to ensure that they are aware of these Rights and work together to seek to ensure that they are upheld. The most important obligation is to ensure that people do not 'fall through the gaps' left by professionals, not actively working together and sharing the responsibility to ensure a person's widest needs and entitlements are not neglected. This places equal responsibilities on teachers, social workers, nurses, GP, consultants, police officers, librarians, housing officers, bus services, theatres companies and all other professionals and community utilities / service employees. The requirement is not just in terms of physical access, but any kind of practical, intellectual, spiritual and emotional access and progress, that any other member of the community may enjoy (and which is 'legal'), on equal terms with them. MIND THE GAPS IN THE SAFETY NET FOR:
The Poor, Disadvantaged, People With Disability, Socially Deprived, Abused, Bullied, Neglected, Prejudiced, Disempowered, Forgotten, Deprived, Scapegoated, Chicken Pecked, Misunderstood, Unrepresented, Over Burdened. MIND THE GAPS IN:
Health Care Services, Social Care, Community Care, Education, Housing Services, Benefits & Welfare, Job Opportunities, Community Resources, Life Opportunity, Human Rights, Career Opportunities, Training, Life Opportunities, Emotional And Sexual Opportunities, "ALL ABOARD, THE TRAIN IS LEAVING - PLEASE MIND THE GAP" If someone falls through the gap in services, it is worse than there being no service available. They are either missed and assumed to be included, assumed not to deserve help, or passed from one service to another. This situation drives people into despair, breakdown, suicide, anger, criminality, antisocial behaviour and deteriorating health. Seeing others get support and justice, which they are deprived of, is not just a failure of professional and institutional obligations and an abuse of human rights, it is a double whammy of social disablement. These situations then bread resentment and distress for the person and their families, the social groups they are part of and the cultures and communities the belong to. Never be too surprised at how this kind of situation turns back on the societies and communities that allow this to happen, or foster the prejudice that produces it. Next time your see a person's Anger, ask yourself why the Anger? What part have you, or your community / society played? Anger, unlike unprovoked aggression, is a valid emotional expression of frustration and injustice. Don't be so quick to judge others. You will be there tomorrow. That is the natural way of all abuse and injustice! This page is still in the stage of preparation. | Some more Recent applications of the Principle:
Hackney Council’s Strategy to reduce inequality & poverty - A 'Supporting People' initiative - Mind the Gap; Community strategy 2005: http://www.hackney.gov.uk Bristol University: Mind the Gap was an action research study, funded by the Foundation for People with Learning Disabilities: http://www.bris.ac.uk/news/2005 Leonard Cheshire Disability has produced a report highlighting the barriers that disabled people face when using public transport : http://www.lcdisability.org/ Somerset Social Services - Mind the Gap is a two year action research project involving key agencies in Somerset. Funded by the Foundation for People with Learning Disabilities & is based on good practice: http://www.somerset.gov.uk/ Mind the Gap uses a bottom up approach based on community work principles of equality, empowerment and participation. We seek to establish a collective approach to anti-poverty actions - Northern Ireland : http://www.niapn.org/ NOTE:
This Document is still at some stage of development. You are invited to respond and comment on its content and its logic. If you return to the document at a future date, you will be able to see its continued development, hopefully reflecting your own and others commentary. I thank you, in advance, for any contribution that you make. Please also feel free to visit and contribute, in any valid way, to these and other social issues, through our Forums. There is also a Chat Room and protected Chat Space for more serious group discussions and individual counselling. Please feel free o use this space for your legitimate activities. Copyright:
Although you will see very few reference to other formal writings in this document, I acknowledge general recognition to the discussions and debates that I have had with students, practitioners and clients over the years. Most of the ideas and theory has evolved through this rather pragmatic process (operational research), rather than any formal reading. If any content of this document describes concepts, theory, or ideas that have been established else where, (prior to my writing, either here or else where - in part or in full), I acknowledge their entitlement to claim them as their intellectual property for financial purposes, if they can evidence this. I also reserve the right to retain them as my intellectual property, with due recognition to those who have made direct contributions, including other writers, should I identify such a past influences. Other than this, I invite you to share and copy any content, to the benefit of intellectual debate and the benefit of individuals and groups, without restriction, other than it be used for constructive purpose, in the wider context of my writing. Should you wish to use any material presented here 'as is', I ask that you then make reference to myself and the web site. The 'Reading Date' would be a useful 'publishing date' for the Current Edition. 1980 is the core publishing date for most of the basic ideas and theory (unless stated otherwise). This 'Reading Date' may be an important part of this 'reference', as the document (by its 'internet fluid' nature) will be constantly changing and this may affect meaning and interpretation, for those following up on such a reference at a later date. Thank you for your cooperation. TRC. eMail: terry.couchman@visitweb.org |
