ABSTRACT

This chapter discusses the user involvement in the health and social services focusing on disabled people. It begins with a brief historical overview of user involvement in health and social care services. The chapter describes some methods of user involvement. The power imbalance between disabled people on the one hand and professionals and managers on the other, extends to the meaning of important concepts that affect disabled people's lives. Disabled people and professionals tend, for example, to have a very different idea of the meaning of 'care' and 'independence' with the view of professionals and managers predominating and being translated into policy and practice. Influential allies within the power structure can enhance the potential of users to influence decisions as can external groups such as researchers and disabled people's organisations. The chapter concludes by bringing together the major factors necessary for successful user involvement among disabled people according to key workers in the field.