Sian Anderson

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Sian has worked in the field of intellectual disability for over 20 years. Much of this time has been spent working the areas of sexuality and relationships education and abuse prevention. She recently completed a PhD at LaTrobe University in Melbourne which examined the impacts of engagement in self-advocacy groups on the social identity of adults with intellectual disabilities. Sian is a Research Assistant in the Living with Disability Research Centre at LaTrobe and sessional lecturer in the School of Social Work and Social Policy.

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Factors which impact on the social networks of people with profound intellectual disabilities

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In this blog, Sian Anderson looks at a study that seeks to discover the factors, which can most positively impact on the development and maintenance of the informal social networks of people with profound intellectual and multiple disabilities.

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Parents with learning disabilities: Solicitors critical of assumptions and prejudice in the system

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Parents with learning disabilities face significantly increased risks of being involved in care proceedings. In this blog, Sian Anderson looks at some research, which sought the views of a small group of solicitors involved in care proceedings, to find out what they thought of the way in which the system and the professionals involved in it responded to parents with learning disabilities in care proceedings.

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Preventing the sexual abuse of children with learning disabilities; knowledge is power

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In this post, Sian Anderson considers a narrative review of literature that focused on the sexual abuse of children with learning disabilities, looking at the extent and nature of such abuse and reactions to it.

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People with learning disabilities in the criminal justice system lacked support, information and faced social isolation

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Whilst estimates of the numbers of people with learning disabilities in the criminal justice system are unreliable because of definitional confusions, there is a recognition that their experience can be confusing and isolating.

Here Sian Anderson looks at a review of published studies which represented the voices of people with learning disabilities themselves to help understand just how they experience the criminal justice system.

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Sex education programmes focused on ‘protection’ and ‘prevention’ with little attention given to supporting people to develop healthy, positive sexual relationships

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Knowledge about sexuality is a key factor in helping people develop healthy relationships, maintain their sexual health and avoid potentially abusive situations, but how much do sexuality education programmes for people with learning disabilities help fulfil these aims?

In her debut blog, Sian Anderson looks at a review of literature which looks at the effectiveness of sex education programmes and educational materials developed for people with mild or moderate learning disabilities.

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