EDITORIAL

The first issue of a new year, and not just any year: 2003 is the European Year of Disabled People. And, despite the progress made in the implementation of Valuing People, there is still plenty to do if its commendably high aspirations of choice, independence, rights and inclusion are to be fulfilled. To mark the Year of Disabled People, we plan later in this volume to experiment with accessible versions of the papers, so that they can be accessed more easily by people with learning disabilities. To underline shifts in thinking towards the Valuing People ideals, this issue highlights some relatively new themes, particularly around gender, ethnicity and emotions. It would have been highly unlikely even 5 years ago to…