Hogg chairs government improvements for disabilities

Professor James Hogg of the White Top Research Unit has been appointed by the Scottish Executive to a number of high profile committees, with a remit to improve services and accountability for people with learning disabilities.

The Scottish Consortium for Learning Disabilities has just awarded a grant of £300,000 as the result of an application prepared by Professor Hogg. The project will compile a national data base of people with learning disabilities to improve information, services and accountability for families and carers.

This initiative, known as the "e-Say" project, sets out to realise one of the recommendations of the Scottish Executive's review of services for people with learning disabilities - "The Same as You?" (hence, "e-Say"). It is a part of the Scottish Executive's programme to modernise government as set out in "21st Century Government for Scotland". James Hogg has been appointed to chair the "e-Say" project board, and is a member of the Scottish Executive "e-Care" national committee, which monitors the implementation of the modernising government programme.

James says, "The e-Say programme aims to utilise information technology to make services such as health, social work and education more accountable to people with learning disabilities and their families. Our committee will monitor the project to assess the benefits for people with learning disabilities throughout Scotland."