title: Partnership working between university researchers and self-advocacy organizations: 'A way forward for inclusion?'in England and 'Fine feathers make a fine bird'in Flanders.
abstract: This article gives accounts of differing experiences of self-advocate partnerships in research with universities in England and Flanders. In England the partnership grew up within a local People First group built upon a personal working relationship with one support person. It is focused almost exclusively on empirical research and, because it is aimed at influencing policy and practice, questions of funding and control are to the fore. In Flanders the partnership is closely linked with the development of a national movement of self-advocates in which the university was a close ally. Research is important in both contexts but in Flanders the university is more clearly identified with the wider movement. Partnerships have their ups and downs but in both countries researchers with the label 'learning difficulties' wish to set their own agendas and place great importance on trust in their work with their support worker (England) or ally (Flanders).
authors.affiliation: Our New Future, Belgium.
authors.forename: Ludo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Schoeters
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Schelfhout
authors.forename: Griet
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Roets
authors.forename: Geert
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Van Hove
authors.forename: Louise
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Townson
authors.forename: Rohhss
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Chapman
authors.forename: Ian
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Buchanan
mesh_terms: D001530:Belgium; D004739:England; D006801:Humans; D007373:Interinstitutional Relations; D007859:Learning Disabilities / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D010344:Patient Advocacy; D019989:Persons with Intellectual Disabilities / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D012106:Research / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012657:Self-Help Groups; D014495:Universities