ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
We are grateful to all of those who contributed to this research, including all of the employers and personal assistants who took the time to complete the survey forms and who agreed to talk with us in detail about their personal experiences.
We are also grateful to SPAEN and members who helped us to pilot the survey forms. The assistance we received from all of the support services in Scotland with the distribution of a very large number of survey packs was also invaluable. We are also grateful to all of these organisations for taking the time to offer their views through the interviews, and to all of the other national and local stakeholders who participated in interviews. We also welcomed their attendance at the findings workshop and their helpful observations about the issues emerging.
The practical assistance and advice given by a wide range of organisations and individuals in helping us to set up the group discussions in the detailed study areas (including, in some cases, providing accommodation and contacting participants) was very beneficial to the research. The assistance provided by the Scottish Government in bringing together the findings workshop was also much appreciated.
The provision of background information and access to reports and papers by a range of organisations was also very helpful and greatly appreciated.
We are also grateful for the valuable contributions made by members of the Research Advisory Group at various stages, and for the assistance which we received from members of the Group and the staff of the Scottish Government.