The study concerns the interfaces across mainstream service systems, people with disabilities and their families, and disability service systems. Maximising the way members of these three groups communicate and work together is a major challenge in the current disability policy environment and one that significantly affects the quality of life of people with disabilities. We take hospital systems as an exemplar mainstream service system and people with cognitive disabilities (intellectual disability and traumatic brain injury) as the exemplar group of service users with disability. Many people with cognitive disabilities have additional impairments (physical, sensory, psychosocial), and their difficulties with cognition, communication and self-direction pose some of the most complex issues requiring accommodations by individuals and service systems. 

The aim of the research is to produce resources for use by health policy makers, hospital administrators, health care providers and disability services to improve the quality of individual and community support. It also provides knowledge and tools to empower people with disabilities and their families to access mainstream services in ways that will ensure they receive optimal support and service.

This report is funded with assistance from a funding grant offered under the National Disability Research and Development Agenda, jointly implemented by disability representatives from Commonwealth, State and Territory governments.