Steve Dowson

Steve Dowson has been involved in services for people with learning difficulties for many years, including seven as national director of Values Into Action.

Many of Steve's past projects, and publications over the years, have explored the way in which the culture and structure of services affect the self-determination of the people who use services. He has had a special interest, for more than 18 years, in the Individualised Funding and Support brokerage model, as originally developed in Canada.

For the six years prior to joining the NDT he worked as an international consultant providing training and consultancy Canada, the USA, and Australia.

His work included organising the programme for the First International Conference on Self-Determination and Individualised Funding, held in Seattle in 2000; support, over three years, to the development of the Individualised Funding project in San Diego, California, and a review of global innovations in disability policy to assist Canadian policy development. As a result of this work Steve is known internationally as one of the leaders in the development of the IF model. This expertise also gives him a unique perspective on the development in England of Individual Budgets, which represent a version of individualised funding.

Steve spent four years as a core member of the NDT, in the role of Director of Development, but moved to Associate Consultant in June 2008. This change has allowed him to continue to work with the NDT while also pursuing his particular interests on an independent basis.