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Professor Jim Marsell died on Tuesday 13 March. He was an expert on disability issues. During his life, he argued that people with disabilities should not live in special institutions. He wanted people with disabilities to live in community. Inclusion Europe expresses their sympathy to his family and friends.

It is with deep regret and sorrow that we inform you that Jim Mansell passed away last Tuesday at the age of 59. Jim Mansell can be considered the one of the founding fathers of independent living and community inclusion in teh UK. His work in the field of intellectual disabilities made a positive impact on the lives of thousands of people with disabilities and their families

"It is with a sense of deep loss that we have received the news of Jim Mansell's passing. Until the end, he remained productive and committed to the fight for better lives for people with disabilities. He is an example to us all. Jim Mansell will be remembered as a pioneer in the field of inclusion and community living for people with disabilities. He was a major influencer in policy and practice both in the UK and internationally," says Inclusion Europe's President Maureen Piggot.

Jim Mansell was Emeritus Professor of Learning Disability in the Tizard Centre at the University of Kent, England and Professor of Disability Studies at La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia. He will always be remembered as a pioneer in the fight for inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities. Just recently he was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire in New Year Honours 2012.

He set off working with Albert Kushlick setting up homes for people with severe and complex needs. In 1983 he founded the Tizard Centre, which is recognised as the leading UK centre for University teaching in intellectual disability. He also led an extensive programme of consultancy and research focused on improving the quality of services for people with intellectual disabilities.

He was an adviser to the government in Britain and also to government and non-government agencies abroad. He directed the drafting of the definitive official guidance for councils and the NHS on Services for People with Learning Disabilities and Challenging Behaviour or Mental Health Needs.

He revised and updated the guidance, which became known as "the Mansell report", in 2007, and published a second report for the government in 2010. This report called “Raising Our Sights” focused on support for people with the most complex needs.

In November 2011, he was presented with the Social Care Institute for Excellence Knowledge Award for Outstanding Contribution to knowledge in social care.

His interest in the field of intellectual disabilities and de-hospitalisation started when in 1970, when he was a student at Cardiff University, he decided to take a group of kids with intellectual disabilities to the cinema. The children lived at Ely hospital in shocking conditions. He and three fellow students decided to share a house with five people from Ely – an arrangement that set the pattern for the supported living model that was to enable almost all those in long-stay hospitals to move into the community.

He set up a student charity and worked with other students to support people with intellectual disabilities to move out of the large long-stay hospital. It was the start of his career in the field of intellectual disabilities.

Professor Jim Marsell worked with us at Inclusion Europe, collaborating continuously, especially on the Deinstitutionalisation and Community Living: Outcomes and Costs project and the Included in society project.