Deinstitutionalization and People with Intellectual Disabilities is an international collaboration between qualitative researchers and former institutional residents with intellectual disabilities that presents a comprehensive overview of personal and professional perspectives on deinstitutionalisation. Personal stories alternate with cultural and political analysis, and reflections on implementing and evaluating deinstitutionalisation. This great diversity of perspectives is complemented by insights into the personal and professional life of one institutional ex-resident, Thomas Allen, whose story provides a powerful commentary on the effect of institutions and deinstitutionalisation on one individual over almost a century. Broader chapters consider the purposes of institutions and use historical case studies to identify reasons for admission or institutionalisation. The authors discuss a range of institutions, including nursing homes, jails, locked houses in the community and forensic units, and interrogate the contrasting notions of institutional oppression and on the other hand, integration and the empowerment it affords on the other. They challenge the continuing discrimination and marginalisation of disabled institutional residents or ex-residents in community life, arguing for a more positive, integrative approach. Researchers, practitioners and readers with intellectual disabilities will find this book an insightful, comprehensive reference.
Acknowledgements. Introduction: In and out of institutions, Rannveig Traustadottir, Iceland, and Kelley Johnson, Australia. Part I. Living Inside. 1. Sixty Years in the Institution. Thomas F. Allen with Rannveig Traustadottir and Lisa Spina, USA. 2. Institutionalization: A Historical Perspective, Jan Walmsley, UK. 3. Containing Uncontainable Women, Kelley Johnson. 4. Institutional Death: The Coronial Inquest into the Deaths of Nine Men with Intellectual Disabilities. Ian Freckelton, Australia. 5. I've Been in Hospital All My Life, Avis Hunter with Brigit Mirfin-Veitch, New Zealand. 6. The Institutions Are Dying, but Are Not Dead Yet. Steven J. Taylor, USA. Part II. Moving Out. 7. It's Never Too Late, Thomas F. Allen with Rannveig Traustadottir and Lisa Spina. 8. The Impact of Policy Tensions and Organizational Demands on the Process of Moving Out of an Institution, Christine Bigby, Australia. 9. The Cost of Moving Out. Ingiborg Eide Geirsdottir with Gudrun V. Stefansdottir, Iceland. 10. Rowan's Choices, Ethel M. Temby, Australia. 11. Moving Out: A Reflection, Kelley Johnson. Part III. Living Outside. 12. In the Community. Thomas F. Allen with Rannveig Traustadottir and Lisa M. Spina. 13 'I've got my Freedom Now': Memories of Transitions Into and Out of Institutions, 1932 to the Present Day, Victor Hall with Sheena Rolph, UK. 14. 'Gone Fishin'': From Institutional Outing to Real Life. Emil Johansen with Kristjana Kristiansen, Norway. 15. 'Lady of the Well': Memories of Vicki, Jen Devers. 16. Reflections on Living Outside: Continuity and Change in the Life of 'Outsiders'. Jan Tossebro, Norway. Part IV. Moving On. 17. A New Life, Thomas F. Allen with Rannveig Traustadottir and Lisa Spina. 18. Conquering Life: The Experiences of the First Integrated Generation, Magnus Tideman, Sweden. 19. New Forms of Institutionalization in the Community, Julian Gardner and Louise Glanville, Australia. 20. Returning to One's Roots: Haki Titori's story, Patricia O'Brien, New Zealand. 21. Becoming Contractual: The Development of Contracts and Social Care Markets in England, Paul Cambridge, UK. 22. The Dignity of Risk: My Son's Home and Adult Life, Dora S. Bjarnason, Iceland. 23. Out of the Institution Trap, John O'Brien, USA. Epilogue to Tom Allen's Life Story. Contributors. Subject Index. Author Index.
The thought-provoking words of the disabled painted a sometimes dark and depressing view of life within the walls of a institution, and highlighted the need for compassion and love in the staff who work with these incredibly vulnerable people. Despite all this, the overall theme of the publication is one of hope. I thoroughly enjoyed this, I appreciated the beauty of the stories, and I valued the hope it gave me.
