Sage Journals: Discover world-class research

Abstract

• Summary: This article offers a critical examination of the conceptual basis of service user involvement through the analysis of a practice example derived from the Deaf community. The Deaf community is located both socio-culturally and historically.

• Findings: One authority’s attempts to consult with their own Deaf community is used as the lens to examine the issues, dilemmas and contradictions inherent in consultation and how consultation can be seen as a mechanism both for social control and for empowerment.

• Applications: The authors identify some of the lessons for practice and argue against the uncritical acceptance of consultation. They identify preconditions for consultation to be beneficial both for the Deaf community and for those wishing to consult with that community.

Keywords

Deaf community empowerment consultation service user involvement

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Arnstein, S. (1969) ‘A Ladder of Citizen Participation in the USA’, Journal of the American Institute of Planners 35(4): 216-224.

Beresford, P. and Croft, S. (1993) Citizen Involvement. London: Macmillan.

British Deaf Association website, URL (consulted January 2002): http://www.bda.org.uk

Chamba, R. , Ahmad, W. and Jones, L. (1988) Improving Services for Asian Deaf Children. Bristol: The Policy Press.

Commission for Social Care Inspection, Joint Review Team web pages, URL (consulted April 2004): http://www.csci.org.uk/publications/joint+review+team+special+reports/default.htm

Conrad, R. (1979) The Deaf School Child, Language and Cognitive Function. London: Harper & Row.

Corker, M. (1998) Deaf and Disabled or Deafness Disabled: Towards a Human Rights Perspective. Buckingham: Open University Press.

Department for Education and Skills, Sure Start website, URL (consulted March 2002): www.surestart.gov.uk

Fook, J. (2002) Social Work: Critical Theory and Practice. London: Sage.

10.

French, S. (1993) ‘Disability, Impairment or Something in Between’, in J. Swain , V. Finklestein , S. French and M. Oliver (eds) Disabling Barriers: Enabling Environments. London: Sage.

11.

Gutek, B. A. (1978) ‘Strategies for Studying Client Satisfaction’, Journal of Social Issues 34(4): 44-55.

12.

Higgins, P. (1980) Outsiders in a Hearing World: Sociology of Deafness. London: Sage.

13.

Joseph Rowntree Foundation (1996) Visible Voices: Deaf People’s Participation in Local Services. Bristol: Policy Press.

14.

Ladd, P. (1988) ‘The Modern Deaf Community’, in D. Miles (ed.) British Sign Language: A Beginner’s Guide. London: BBC Books.

15.

Ladd, P. (2003) Understanding Deaf Culture: In Search of Deafhood. Clevedon: Multilingual Matters.

16.

Lane, H. (1992) The Mask of Benevolence. New York: Knopf.

17.

Lukes, S. (1974) Power: A Radical View. London: Macmillan.

18.

Office for Standards in Education (Ofsted) website, URL (consulted February 2002): www.ofsted.gov.uk

19.

Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, Best Value web pages, URL (consulted April 2004): http://www.bvpi.gov.uk/pages/index.asp

20.

Parasnis, I. (1999) Cultural and Language Diversity and the Deaf Experience. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

21.

Powell, M. and Glendinning, C. (2002) ‘Introduction’, in C. Glendinning , M. Powell and K. Rummery (eds) Partnerships, New Labour and the Governance of Welfare. Bristol: Policy Press.

22.

Powers, S. , Gregory, S. and Thoutenhoofd, E. D. (1998) The Educational Achievements of Deaf Children: A Literature Review. London: Department for Education and Employment.

23.

Royal National Institute for the Deaf website, URL (consulted January 2002): www.rnid.org.uk

24.

Smale, G. , Tuson, G. and Statham, D. (2000) Social Work and Social Problems. London: Macmillan.

25.

Social Services Inspectorate (1997) A Service on the Edge: Inspection of Services for Deaf and Hard of Hearing People. London: Department of Health.

26.

Social Services Inspectorate/Audit Commission (2000) A Report of the Joint Review of Social Services in Birmingham Council. Wetherby: Audit Commission.

27.

Sutton-Spence, R. and Woll, B. (1999) The Linguistics of British Sign Language. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

28.

Wallerstein, N. (1992) ‘Powerlessness, Empowerment and Health: Implications for Health Promotion Programs’, American Journal of Health Promotion 6(3): 197-205.

29.

Woodward, J. (1972) ‘Implications for Sociolinguistics Research Among the Deaf’, Sign Language Studies 1: 1-17.

Consultation,Community and Empowerment

Abstract

Keywords

Get full access to this article

References