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This article seeks to clarify the normative framework for the participation of organisations of persons with disabilities (OPDs) derived from Articles 4(3) and 33 of the UNCRPD, and to explore how OPDs have participated in the UNCRPD State reporting process in three case studies: Denmark, Hungary and France. The research draws on legal and qualitative research methods based on document analysis and interviews from the perspectives of OPDs, UN experts, and other stakeholders. It aims to contribute to the limited empirical research on the participation of European OPDs in the international monitoring of the UNCRPD. After discussing the experience and impact of these OPDs on the UN level, the article identifies the contributing factors and main challenges that have affected their effective participation in the context of EU countries.

To monitor progress in including persons with disabilities, including in interventions which can improve their health and quality of life, it is crucial to collect data on their participation. However, there are many different ways of defining disability and thus categorising individuals as disabled/not disabled, which may impact measures of participation. This study aims to assess the relationship between three different measures of disability and the level of participation of persons with disabilities. We analysed data from a population-based survey of disability amongst Syrian refugees in Istanbul, which collected data on disability using the Washington Group enhanced set of disability questions as well a two-question set asking about perceived activity limitations due to disability. The prevalence of disability ranged from 13.5 to 22.4% depending on the measure used. The group of people that are categorised as disabled also differs, indicating who is being seen as disabled changes when a different measure is used. Levels of participation, with regards to paid work, education and being partnered, also varied by measure, for example, being in paid work ranged from 26% to 38%. These findings underscore the importance of carefully selecting and clearly defining disability measures in studies, (health) interventions and policy contexts.

The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (hereafter CRPD) has provided a radical imperative for the reform of mental health and capacity legislation around the world. The interpretation of the CRPD has been controversial, ranging from the complete abolition of detention, forcible treatment, and substitute decision-making to accepting that elements of these measures need to be retained based on non-discriminatory criteria, additional safeguards, and a comprehensive shift towards supported decision-making. While the potential effects of the CRPD on mental health social work and social work generally are considerable given their shared commitment towards social justice, to date there has been no review of research evidence exploring their relationship. In addressing this knowledge gap, this study held a preliminary discussion with practitioners and academics at the European Association of Social Work Mental Health Special Interest Group in Amsterdam 2022, followed by a scoping literature review on the question: What impact, if any, has the CRPD had on social work practice? The review produced four main findings: impact on legislation; positive impact on practice; limited impact on practice; and impact on social work education and research. In sum, while there were some positive indications of social work and mental health social work practice being influenced by the CRPD, these were scant. Barriers to change included tendencies among some social workers to practise substitute decision-making, in part related to resourcing and policy contexts, and understandings of disability aligned to individualised/medical rather than social perspectives. The results indicate that legal reform on its own is insufficient to impact social work practice, and that realising the potential of the CRPD will necessitate good quality training, as well as improving social workers’ knowledge of the human rights of people with mental impairment.

Background There is a growing momentum around the world to foster greater opportunities for the involvement of mental health service users in their care and treatment planning. In‐principle support for this aim is widespread across mental healthcare professionals. Yet, progress in mental health services towards this objective has lagged in practice. Objectives We conducted a systematic review of quantitative, qualitative and mixed‐method research on interventions to improve opportunities for the involvement of mental healthcare service users in treatment planning, to understand the current research evidence and the barriers to implementation. Methods Seven databases were searched and 5137 articles were screened. Articles were included if they reported on an intervention for adult service users, were published between 2008 and October 2023 and were in English. Evidence in the 140 included articles was synthesised according to the JBI guidance on Mixed Methods Systematic Reviews. Results Research in this field remains exploratory in nature, with a wide range of interventions investigated to date but little experimental replication. Overarching barriers to shared and supported decision‐making in mental health treatment planning were (1) Organisational (resource limitations, culture barriers, risk management priorities and structure); (2) Process (lack of knowledge, time constraints, health‐related concerns, problems completing and using plans); and (3) Relationship barriers (fear and distrust for both service users and clinicians). Conclusions On the basis of the barriers identified, recommendations are made to enable the implementation of new policies and programs, the designing of new tools and for clinicians seeking to practice shared and supported decision‐making in the healthcare they offer. Patient or Public Contribution This systematic review has been guided at all stages by a researcher with experience of mental health service use, who does not wish to be identified at this point in time. The findings may inform organisations, researchers and practitioners on implementing supported decision‐making, for the greater involvement of people with mental ill health in their healthcare.

ABSTRACT Background Most people with mental ill health want to be involved in decision‐making about their care, many mental health professionals now recognise the importance of this (at least in‐principle) and the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities enshrines the ethical imperative to support people in making their own treatment decisions. Nonetheless, there are widespread reports of people with mental ill health being excluded from decision‐making about their treatment in practice. Objectives We conducted a systematic review of quantitative, qualitative and mixed method research on interventions to improve opportunities for the involvement of mental healthcare service users in treatment planning. We sought to consolidate and understand the evidence on the outcomes of shared and supported decision‐making for people with mental ill health. Methods Seven databases were searched and 5137 articles were screened. Articles were included if they reported on an intervention for adult service users, were published between 2008 and October 2023 and were in English. Evidence in the 140 included articles was synthesised according to the JBI guidance on Mixed Methods Systematic Reviews. Results There was evidence relating to the effects of these interventions on a range of outcomes for people with mental ill health, including on: suicidal crisis, symptoms, recovery, hospital admissions, treatment engagement and on the use of coercion by health professionals. There is favourable evidence for these types of interventions in improving some outcomes for people with mental ill health, more so than treatment‐as‐usual. For other outcomes, the evidence is preliminary but promising. Some areas for caution are also identified. Conclusions The review indicates that when the involvement of people with mental ill health in treatment planning is supported, there can be improved outcomes for their health and care. Areas for future research are highlighted. Patient or Public Contribution This systematic review has been guided at all stages by a researcher with experience of mental health service use, who does not wish to be identified at this point in time. The findings may inform organisations, researchers and practitioners on the benefits of implementing supported decision‐making, for the greater involvement of people with mental ill health in their healthcare.

Background People with disabilities experienced disproportional health risks and systematic exclusion during the COVID-19 pandemic with particularly severe consequences such as poorer health outcomes and barriers to services in countries around the world. In Zambia, people with disabilities experienced income loss, stress, and additional barriers to accessing health services. This study aimed to analyse disability inclusion in national COVID-19 policies in Zambia. Methods We conducted content policy analysis using framework analysis. Ten documents were analysed against eight equity-relevant dimensions of a typical disability inclusive, COVID-19 crisis response. We adapted the framework from Sakellariou and used Ritchie and Spencer’s five step thematic analysis. These national policies were published between March 2020 and December 2023. The documents were also scored against eight themes for policy provisions. Results Disability inclusion was generally low. Although action was provided for disability inclusion in relation to accessible information, access to healthcare and education, financial support, and considerations for the needs of people facing multiple exclusion, information was often not detailed and did not cover all people with disabilities. Several themes on disability inclusion were neglected, including reasonable accommodation and disaggregated disability data. Conclusion These findings underscore persistent structural barriers to equity for people with disabilities during public health crises. It highlights shortcomings by the Government of Zambia in promoting disability inclusion during the COVID-19 pandemic. There is need for improved provisions across all stages of policy design and implementation to strengthen equity and resilience in future public health emergencies.

The ratification of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) and the passage of Indonesia's first national law based on disability rights, No. 8 of 2016 on Persons with Disabilities, have laid the groundwork for a paradigm shift in understanding and approaching disability in the country. Based on descriptive analysis and long-term observation, this article argues that advances in the legal frameworks that govern disability policies have yet to result in significant improvements in the lives of Indonesians with disabilities. A lack of budget commitment, regulatory discord, and insufficient awareness of disability rights in the public and private sectors all point to a half-hearted approach to disability inclusion. This article illustrates this argument by focusing on three crucial aspects of the realisation of human rights for people with disabilities in Indonesia: the rights to education, health and employment.

For social work with adults with mild intellectual disabilities, the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) provides a framework for putting the principles of social justice and human rights into practice. This article focuses on social workers’ knowledge, values, and skills, which may contribute to the protection of the rights of adults with mild intellectual disabilities. A scoping review found no documented effective competencies for realizing human rights and social inclusion for adults with mild intellectual disabilities. As a result, a narrative review was conducted focusing on codes of ethics and competency profiles in the USA, UK, and Netherlands. The codes of ethics were found to align with the values of social justice, human dignity, integrity, competence/expertise, and relationship building. Differences between the codes of ethics and competency profiles were found in the human rights underpinning and weight given to advocacy, racism, dimensions of justice, and intersectionality. Six clusters of competencies were identified as aligning with CRPD aspirations: assessment, engagement, advancement, empowerment, intervention, and professionalism. We conclude that with regard to skills and knowledge, social work is profiled as a human rights profession in the USA and UK more explicitly than in NL. Regardless of the codes of ethics and competency profiles, convincing evidence that performing the competencies contributes to human rights realization is lacking. Further investigation of social work knowledge and skills that may be effective in the protection and promotion of human rights is recommended.

To explore critical concerns and recommendations outlined by the United Nations committee in its Concluding Observations on Article 27, focusing on addressing challenges related to disability employment. The study aims to identify and accumulate insights of the UN committee informing directions towards framing effective strategies for enhancing inclusive employment opportunities for PWDs. The study design involves qualitative exploration of the relevance between the concerns and recommendations under Article 27, based on concluding observations across eleven state parties from five continents. The sample nations selected are the top-developed countries according to the Human Development Index. Content analysis is employed to analyze the compliance status of state parties in the concluding observations made by the UN Committee of CRPD. The findings systematically categorize 21 causative factors, consequential effects and proposed policy interventions across legislative, administrative, judicial, civil society and employer-centric obligations. The study concludes that while the UNCRPD recommendations hold legal legitimacy, their lack of specificity necessitates more targeted policy intervention and future research, prompting investigations into developing more tailored and nuanced policy interventions that effectively address disability employment challenges.

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine how the Republic of Ireland’s National Emergency Coordinating Group performed with respect to ensuring access to emergency information for deaf sign language (SL) users over the course of two emergency situations in 2017 and 2018 as a result of storms. The storms book-ended parliamentary and public debate around the recognition of the indigenous SL of Ireland, Irish Sign Language (ISL). The author explores if/how increased political awareness led to better access in 2018, and how access provision maps to best practice guidelines set out by the World Association of Sign Language Interpreters (WASLI) and the World Federation of the Deaf (WFD). Design/methodology/approach This paper provides empirical insights about the asymmetrical effort that is required of a minority linguistic community, in this instance, community of deaf ISL users and their allies, to secure provision of access to emergency information that is provided as a matter of course to the wider community of hearing English language speakers. The author draws on parliamentary records, social media and print media to document the political, societal and deaf community discourse around ISL recognition and the emergencies. Findings The author finds that significant effort was required of deaf people and their allies to secure access to national emergency briefings in 2017, with significant improvement evidenced in 2018 for Storm Emma and the Beast from the East, in the aftermath of the adoption of the ISL Act (December 2017). The author drew on the theory of effortful engaging, which posits that unless we have greater awareness of and pro forma consideration of SLs and deaf people, the burden of work required to ensure appropriate access and participation falls on deaf people. Research limitations/implications There is scope for completing a 360° analysis of stakeholders engaged in the process. Further work should also include interviews with deaf community members and emergency response coordinators. Practical implications This paper identifies implications for emergency coordinating groups: provision of appropriate interpreting must be a pro forma element in the planning for delivery of any emergency information. Broadcasters must be required to ensure that interpreters are visible on screen at all times during live briefings: what is unseen is “unheard” for SL users. Work remains to ensure that deaf people have access to preparatory information in their language, and that they have ease of access to two-way emergency services. Emergency coordinating teams need to integrate the UNCRPD-mapped WASLI-WFD recommendations into their emergency strategy. Social implications Communities depend on information for their survival in times of crisis. Communication requires comprehension and interaction. For SL users, information in an indigenous SL is a lifeline in a time of crisis. This requires emergency response teams to understand that “language” is multi-modal and embed strategies for engaging with deaf communities in all aspects of their processes, with guidance from deaf community leaders and advocates. There is also a need to consider deafblind people and deaf people who have disabilities, who are more vulnerable in crisis situations. Originality/value This is the first analysis of state provision of access to information for the Irish deaf community in an emergency setting. It is one of very few empirical analyses of how deaf communities fare in emergency contexts and the first to evaluate a state’s practice vis-à-vis UNCRPD-led guidelines on best practice issued by the WASLI/WFD. The socio-political context described represents a unique period where the Irish deaf community and ISL were central to political and media discourse because of the ISL Act and the death of two deaf brothers in tragic circumstances in Autumn 2017.