This book takes a unique approach to empowerment, starting by examining the lives and relationships of people with learning disabilities, their families and friends. Questions are then asked about how policy making, service provision and state legislation might be implemented in ways which would provide for an empowered life and lifestyle.

Preface Paul Ramcharan and John Boland. SECTION 1 EMPOWERMENT IN INFORMAL SETTINGS Chapter 1 - Everything You Ever Wanted to Know about Down's Syndrome, but Never Bothered to Ask Anya Souza, independent consultant, with Paul Ramcharan. Chapter 2 - Empowering and Michael Bayley, University of Sheffield. Chapter 3 - Shouting the Loudest: Self Advocacy, Power and Diversity Jan Walmsley, The Open University and Jackie Downer, Lambeth Accord. Chapter 4 - Voices and Choices: Mapping Entitlements to Friendships and Community Contacts Paul Ramcharan, Morag McGrath and Gordon Grant. Chapter 5 - Families and Empowerment Marion Barnes, University of Sheffield. Empowerment in Informal Settings: The Themes, John Borland and Paul Ramcharan. SECTION 2 EMPOWERMENT IN FORMAL SETTINGS: Chapter 6 - Empowerment within Services: A Comfortable Delusion Steve Dowson, independent consultant. Chapter 7 - Consulting to Involve or Consulting to Empower? Gordon Grant. Chapter 8 - I'm Stuck Here with my Poxy Star Chart - Listening to Mentally Disordered Offenders with Learning Disabilities Margaret Flynn, National Development Team et al. Chapter 9 - Empowerment and Community Care: Some of the Legal Issues Gwyneth Roberts. Empowerment in Formal Settings: The Themes John Borland and Paul Ramcharan. SECTION 3 EMPOWERMENT IN DIFFERENT LEGAL AND POLICY CONTEXTS Chapter 10 - Capacity and Empowerment Gywneth Roberts .Chapter 11 Citizenship and People with Disabilities in Canada: Towards the Elusive Ideal Marcia Rioux, Michael Bach and Cameron Crawford, Roeher Institute and University of York. Chapter 12 - Empowerment and the Limitations of Formal Human Services and Legislation Judith Cockram and Errol Cocks, Edith Cowan University. Chapter 13 - Citizenship, Empowerment and Everyday Life: Ideal and Illusion in the New Millenium Paul Ramcharan, Gwyneth Roberts, Gordon Grant and John Borland.