Partnership approach to supporting people with disabilities
Monday, September 10 2007
The future development of local area co-ordination (LAC) in the Scottish Borders was discussed today (Monday) at a meeting in Tweed Horizons in St Boswells.
The LAC approach, which was implemented in learning disability services in the Borders in 2005, is a completely different way of looking at supporting people to live fulfilled lives. It cuts across traditional service boundaries and involves a partnership between the individual, their family and the co-ordinator.
The event, hosted by Scottish Borders Council, was opened by Councillor David Raw, Executive Member for Social Work, and Andrew Lowe, Director of Social Work.
The keynote speaker was Eddie Bartnik, who played a leadership role in the local area co-ordination program in Western Australia, which now supports more than 8000 people with disabilities and their families.
Eddie said: “This event provided an excellent opportunity to bring together key members of the Borders community to consider how disability support can become more personal and local. The work of current local area co-ordinators in the Borders provides a solid foundation to move forward”.
The programme included presentations on the LAC model and its implementation in Scotland, and a panel discussion on the future development of LAC in the Scottish Borders. Delegates also took part in workshops.
Councillor Raw said: "I was fascinated to learn more about this work from one of the international experts. I am sure that this partnership approach is the way forward because it places an emphasis on people's abilities rather than their disabilities and knits us all together."
Andrew Lowe added: "This approach can work with different people and in many different circumstances. It is about working together, involving and including. These values are firmly embedded in the Borders, so I think it will prosper here."
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