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It's a social model versus medical model issue: to describe someone as a 'vulnerable adult' is to make the individual the problem, rather than the context in which they experience their impairment/illness or other characteristic. A social model approach recognises that someone is not 'vulnerable' because of their impairment but because of the way society responds to them. So for example, a person who does not use speech to communicate is vulnerable to abuse if they are exposed to abusive people who see them as an easy target and if others do not take the trouble understand how they communicate what they have experienced. Or, if someone was blind/partially sighted, they are vulnerable to injury if they are not provided with the assistance/equipment to enable them to safely move around a strange environment. 'Vulnerability' is created by others, not a characteristic of the individual. So if I was having to write such a document as you refer to, rather than talk about 'vulnerable adults' I would try and place the emphasis on others' behaviours rather than on the disabled person. But I know it's hard! Jenny -----Original Message----- From: The Disability-Research Discussion List [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Roisin Dermody Sent: 02 October 2012 02:10 To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Vulnerable adults Hi everyone, I'm involved with a sports organization for people who are blind/vision impaired and we are updating our policy documents which include child protection and volunteer policies. For funding and insurgence purposes, we need to make reference to "vulnerable adults", which makes me uncomfortable as I don't consider myself a "vulnerable adult". I have worded the document in such a way so that it doesn't refer to all of us who are blind/vision impaired to be "vulnerable adults" at all times. so I need a definition of "vulnerable adults" which I can live with. Can anyone suggest a definition that is respectful and maintains the dignity of the "vulnerable adult" ? Thanks, Roisin Róisín Dermody [log in to unmask] +353-87-9370-337 ________________End of message________________ This Disability-Research Discussion list is managed by the Centre for Disability Studies at the University of Leeds (www.leeds.ac.uk/disability-studies). Enquiries about list administration should be sent to [log in to unmask] Archives and tools are located at: www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/disability-research.html You can VIEW, POST, JOIN and LEAVE the list by logging in to this web page. ________________End of message________________ This Disability-Research Discussion list is managed by the Centre for Disability Studies at the University of Leeds (www.leeds.ac.uk/disability-studies). Enquiries about list administration should be sent to [log in to unmask] Archives and tools are located at: www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/disability-research.html You can VIEW, POST, JOIN and LEAVE the list by logging in to this web page.