Sam Ayer was a dedicated learning disability nurse who transformed care for vulnerable children and adults. Beginning as a staff nurse at South Ockendon hospital in 1973, he advanced to lead the Swansea Children’s Unit while earning his BA in economics. His influential research contributed significantly to shifting services from institutional to community-based care. In 1982, he became one of the first learning disability nurses to earn a PhD, subsequently using his expertise to revolutionize nurse education and development programs.Andy Alaszewski is Emeritus Professor of Health Studies at the University of Kent, UK. Over his career, Professor Alaszewski developed research interests into different aspects of the relationship between health and society; the management of risk, personal experiences of illnesses and health and the ways in which health policy is formed and implemented.

Reviews of the first publication:‘This is a useful book which is likely to be of interest to all members of the community mental handicap team.’— The British Journal of Psychiatry, Volume 147, Issue 1‘It is a careful and detailed academic document.’— The British Journal of Social Work, Vol. 15, No. 3

• Preface 1. Families of mentally handicapped people and official policy 2. The development of community care 3. The North Humberside study 4. Measuring disability 5. The discovery of mental handicap 6. Care in the family 7. Care by the community 8. Care in the community: the role of welfare agencies 9. Two mothers Conclusion – what direction community care?

Sam Ayer was a dedicated learning disability nurse who transformed care for vulnerable children and adults. Beginning as a staff nurse at South Ockendon hospital in 1973, he advanced to lead the Swansea Children’s Unit while earning his BA in economics. His influential research contributed significantly to shifting services from institutional to community-based care. In 1982, he became one of the first learning disability nurses to earn a PhD, subsequently using his expertise to revolutionize nurse education and development programs.Andy Alaszewski is Emeritus Professor of Health Studies at the University of Kent, UK. Over his career, Professor Alaszewski developed research interests into different aspects of the relationship between health and society; the management of risk, personal experiences of illnesses and health and the ways in which health policy is formed and implemented.

Reviews of the first publication:‘This is a useful book which is likely to be of interest to all members of the community mental handicap team.’— The British Journal of Psychiatry, Volume 147, Issue 1‘It is a careful and detailed academic document.’— The British Journal of Social Work, Vol. 15, No. 3

• Preface 1. Families of mentally handicapped people and official policy 2. The development of community care 3. The North Humberside study 4. Measuring disability 5. The discovery of mental handicap 6. Care in the family 7. Care by the community 8. Care in the community: the role of welfare agencies 9. Two mothers Conclusion – what direction community care?

Sam Ayer was a dedicated learning disability nurse who transformed care for vulnerable children and adults. Beginning as a staff nurse at South Ockendon hospital in 1973, he advanced to lead the Swansea Children’s Unit while earning his BA in economics. His influential research contributed significantly to shifting services from institutional to community-based care. In 1982, he became one of the first learning disability nurses to earn a PhD, subsequently using his expertise to revolutionize nurse education and development programs.Andy Alaszewski is Emeritus Professor of Health Studies at the University of Kent, UK. Over his career, Professor Alaszewski developed research interests into different aspects of the relationship between health and society; the management of risk, personal experiences of illnesses and health and the ways in which health policy is formed and implemented.

Reviews of the first publication:‘This is a useful book which is likely to be of interest to all members of the community mental handicap team.’— The British Journal of Psychiatry, Volume 147, Issue 1‘It is a careful and detailed academic document.’— The British Journal of Social Work, Vol. 15, No. 3

• Preface 1. Families of mentally handicapped people and official policy 2. The development of community care 3. The North Humberside study 4. Measuring disability 5. The discovery of mental handicap 6. Care in the family 7. Care by the community 8. Care in the community: the role of welfare agencies 9. Two mothers Conclusion – what direction community care?