This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Read, S. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Read, S. Social Bookmarking                         What's this?

A Year in the Life of a Bereavement Counselling and Support Service for People with Learning Disabilities

Keele University, UK

This paper addresses the specific needs of a minority group that historically have not had their grief needs acknowledged, addressed or accommodated: people with learning disabilities. Action research was initially used to introduce, and facilitate the development of, a bereavement counselling and support service designed specifically for people with learning disabilities and integrated into a well-established voluntary organization in North Staffordshire, England. The paper focuses upon a 12 month `snap-shot' of this service which incorporated a qualitative perspective, where focus groups were used to capture constructive feedback from the bereavement counsellors involved in the project. In addition, descriptive statistical data of the service are presented to corroborate the perceived needs and challenges of the bereaved individual who has learning disabilities. Specific characteristics of a bereavement service that can constructively accommodate the bereavement care needs of such a client group are identified.

Key Words: bereavement counselling • grief • learning disability

Journal of Intellectual Disabilities, Vol. 5, No. 1, 19-33 (2001)
DOI: 10.1177/146900470100500103


CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				U. Gilrane-McGarry and L. Taggart An exploration of the support received by people with intellectual disabilities who have been bereaved Journal of Research in Nursing, March 1, 2007; 12(2): 129 - 144. [Abstract] [PDF]