Dr. Kelly Camilleri (K.Camilleri@exeter.ac.uk) is a psychologist who specializes in working with the developmentally disabled. She is faculty at the University of Exeter in the UK. Dr. Camilleri talks at length about using a holistic, systems approach with this population. She describes how a systems approach works, discusses some of the psychodynamic challenges experienced by the developmentally disabled and some of the psychodynamic challenges faced by those who work with the developmentally disabled.
Dr. Camilleri e-mailed me a comprehenisve list of resources for those who would like to explore this issue further. I am cutting and pasting these resources into this post. See below:
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KEY REFERENCES:
Bouras N. (Ed) (1999) Psychiatric and behavioural Disorders in Developmental Disabilities and Mental Retardation. Cambridge University Press.
A recently published text with, as the title implies, a predominantly psychiatric perspective. However, it includes contributions by a variety of influential authors in the field and covers a wide range of topics including learning disabilities and offending, behavioural phenotypes, and policy and service issues.
Brechin A. & Walmsley J. (1989) Making Connections – reflecting on the lives and experiences of people with learning difficulties. Open University.
This collection of contributions explores the lives and experiences of people with learning disabilities from a range of perspectives. In so doing it enriches our understanding and challenges some of our practices. Part of the Open University Course – Mental Handicap: Changing perspectives.
Emerson, E et. al. (1998) Clinical Psychology and People with Intellectual Disabilities. Chichester:Wiley.
A comprehensive introduction, addressing the principles behind service provision, key components of clinical work and considerations for specific clinical problems. It contains contributions form many of the leading lights in the field.
Simpson, D & Miller, L (2004) Unexpected Gains: Psychotherapy with People With Learning Disabilities Karnac
This book is a collection of papers written by Tavistock instituite Learning disabilities services staff. It describes in detail psychoanalytic psychotherapy with children and adults with learning disabilities.
Jacobson, J., Mulick, J., & Rojahn, J. (2007) Handbook of Intelectual and Developmental Disabilities. Springer.
Provides a comprehensive overview of a wide range of aetiological, medical and psychological issues for people with a learning disability.
Kroeze, B & Dagnan, D (1997) Cognitive-behaviour therapy for people with learning disabilities. Routledge
Provides a good general introduction to the theoretical and practical considerations of CBT for people with a learning disability.
Waitman A. & Conboy-Hill S. (1991) Psychotherapy and mental Handicap. London: Sage Publications.
An excellent text with contributions from highly respected authors. Topics addressed include critical life cycle stages such as the birth of a handicapped child, broader issues such as sexuality, and various therapeutic approaches including reminiscence and transactional analysis and themes relevant to therapy such as counter transference.
Websites:
Disability rights commission website. Provides good information on the health inequalities faced by people with a learning disability
This is the portal for the learning disabilities forum which is part of the mental health foundation website. We would recommend that trainees sign up and join this forum. It includes service users and careers views on current issues that face people with learning disabilities
Excellent user led website which provides a user perspective on person centred planning
The full Mental Capacity Act 2005
An excellent general website specific documents of importance here are the “Death by indifference” report and the “treat me right” campaign
official valueing people website
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