Dropping 'E's: the missing link in quality assurance for disabled people

Abstract

Community Care reforms have revived interest in service quality. It is argued that the definition of service quality is value-led and that domi nant ideologies have contributed to the continued oppression of disabled people. The design of quality assurance systems is considered and it is suggested that organisations controlled by disabled people have a central role to play in providing disablement services. Two conclusions are drawn. First, service quality cannot on its own be a sufficient condition for disabled people's emancipation. Second, 'quality' has been used as a policy substitute for the necessary con dition of 'equality'.