Cerebra LEaP Pro Bono research project findings cited in guide by the national body for Home Improvement Agencies in England
Cerebra is a children’s charity concerned with improving the lives of children with neurological conditions and their families.
Cerebra has endowed a Research Chair at the School of Law to help families overcome commonly occurring legal problems that they encounter when seeking to access their legal entitlements.
The Cerebra Legal Entitlements and Problem-Solving (LEaP) project is led by Professor Luke Clements, with the support of Dr Ana Laura Aiello.
The School of Law’s Community Engagement (pro bono) opportunities are open to all students within the School and allow students to put into practice the knowledge and skills they’ve developed throughout their studies. The Cerebra Pro Bono Research Programme is an opportunity for School of Law students to be involved in research which helps to benefit the lives of disabled children and their families.
The programme produces reports which are used to raise awareness and bring about practical change in the law and public policy and practices.
Project lead Professor Luke Clements spoke at the launch of ‘A guide to adaptations for children and young people with behaviours that challenge’ by Foundations, the national body for Home Improvement Agencies (HIAs) in England. The guide, endorsed by the Royal College of Occupational Therapists, calls for a better understanding of the needs of people with autism and/or learning disabilities in housing adaptations and the system-wide cost benefits.
The Cerebra LEaP Pro Bono research project from 2017 is referenced in the guide on page 28 as well as in the executive summary on page 6 and methodology on page 12.
Professor Clements said of the relationship between the project and this new guidance “this is a wonderful example of our research having a practical impact for disabled children and their families”.
