Linda Ward

Qualifications

Role

Professor of Disability and Social Policy

Contact details

Direct line: 0117 331 0988

Email: l.ward@bristol.ac.uk

Biography

Co-founder and former director of the Norah Fry Research Centre (2001 – 2006), Linda joined the University of Bristol in 1980 as a researcher, having previously undertaken her PhD at Bristol’s then Department of Social Administration.  She had previously worked as a researcher and community worker in the voluntary sector in inner London, following her degree in social administration at the London School of Economics.  From 1988-2003 Linda was adviser on disability to the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, establishing and supporting its influential disability programme of applied research and development projects. Linda has also worked at the Open University (helping to develop their courses on learning disability) and the National Lottery Charities Board, now the Big Lottery (advising on their social research grants programme).  She was specialist adviser to the recent Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights’ Inquiry on Human Rights and Adults with Learning Disabilities, published as ‘A life like any other?’ in March 2008.

Research interests

Linda has researched and published widely in the field of learning difficulties and disability, with a particular interest in equal opportunities, ethical issues, accessible information, advocacy, support to disabled children and their families (especially at transition), support for parents with learning disabilities and their children, human rights and research to bring about policy and practice change.

Current research projects

Current areas of work at the Centre include support to parents with learning disabilities and their children and the experiences of offenders with learning disabilities in the criminal justice system.

Recent projects

Supporting disabled children and their families-mapping positive practice.  Funded by the Baring and Esmee Fairbairn Foundations; published as Finding the Right Support?(2006)

The impact of Supporting People housing programme on lives of people with learning disabilities.  Funded by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation; published as Support for Living? (2007)

Strategies for change in services for people with learning disabilities-research on the early implementation of the 2001 Valuing People White Paper.  Funded by the Department of Health; published as Making Valuing People Work (2004)

Publications

Books (since 2001)

Williams, V, Abbott, D, Rodgers, J, Ward, L and Watson, D (2007): Money, rights and risks: a scoping review of financial issues for people with learning disabilities in the UK, London, Friends Provident Association

Fyson, R, Tarleton, B and Ward, L (2007): Support for living? The Impact of the Supporting People Programme on Housing and Support for Adults with Learning Disabilities, Bristol, Policy Press/Joseph Rowntree Foundation

Tarleton, B, Ward, L. and Howarth, J (2006): Finding the right support: a review of issues and positive practice to support parents with learning difficulties and their children.  London: The Baring Foundation.

Fyson, R. Ward, L., (2004) Making ‘Valuing People’ Work: strategies for change in services for people with learning disabilities. Bristol, Policy Press

Heslop, P., Mallett, R., Simons, K. and Ward, L. (2002): Bridging the divide at transition: what happens for young people with learning disabilities and their families? Kidderminster, British Institute of Learning Disabilities

Ward, L. (2001, ed) Considered Choices? The new genetics, prenatal testing and people with learning difficulties.  Kidderminster, British Institute of Learning Disabilities.

Abbott, D., Morris, J., and Ward, L. (2001): The best place to be: policy, practice and the experiences of residential school placements for disabled children.  York, York Publishing.

Chapters

Ward L. (2005) Whose right to choose? The new genetics, prenatal testing and people with learning difficulties. In: Bunton, R & Petersen A., (eds). Genetic governance. London, Routledge, 121-135

Ward L. (2004) Researching vulnerable groups. In: Becker S & Bryman A., (eds). Understanding research for social policy and practice. Bristol, Policy Press, 169-176

Ward, L. (2001): To be or not to be …? In Ward, L. (ed.): Considered choices? The new genetics, prenatal testing and people with learning difficulties.  Kidderminster, British Institute of Learning Disabilities

Papers in refereed journals (2002 onwards)

Tarleton, B and Ward, L (2007): ‘Parenting with support’: the views and experiences of parents with learning disabilities, Journal of Policy and Practice in Intellectual Disabilities, 4, 3, 194-202

Ward, L and Tarleton, B (2007): Sinking or swimming?  Supporting parents with learning disabilities and their children, Learning Disability Review, 12, 2, 22-32

Ward L. & Townsley R. (2005) ‘It’s about a dialogue…’ Working with people with learning difficulties to develop accessible information. British Journal of Learning Disabilities. 33 (2) 59-64

Tarleton, B. & Ward L. (2005) Changes and choices: finding out what information young people with learning disabilities, their parents and supporters need at transition. British Journal of Learning Disabilities. 33 (2) 70-76

Ward, L., Fyson, R. and Watson, D. (2004) Planning for change: Learning disability Joint Investment Plans and implementing the ‘Valuing People’ White Paper, Journal of Integrated Care, 12, 11-18

Ward, L., Heslop, P., Mallett, R., and Simons, K., (2003):  Transition: The experiences of young people with learning disabilities and their families in England. Tizard Learning Disability Review, 8, (4) 19-28

Ward, L., Mallet, R., Heslop, P. and Simons, K. (2003) Transition planning: How well does it work for young people with learning disabilities and their families, British Journal of Special Education, 30, 132-137

 Ward, L., Mallet, R., Heslop, P. and Simons, K. (2003) ‘Planning for health at transition’, Learning Disability Practice, 6 (3), 24-27

Morris, J., Abbott, D., and Ward, L., (2003):  Disabled children and residential schools: the implications for local education professionals. British Journal of Special Education, 30, (2) 70-75.

Ward, L., (2002) Whose right to choose?  The new genetics, pre-natal testing and people with learning difficulties. Critical Public Health, 12, 2, 187-200

Ward, L., (2002): Women with learning difficulties and the menopause: a commentary.  Tizard Learning Disability Review, 7 (1), 13-16

Ward L., Howarth, J. and Rodgers, J. (2002) Difference and choice: exploring prenatal testing and the use of genetic information with people with learning difficulties. British Journal of Learning Disabilities. 30 (2) 50-55