The role of government in the implementation of personal budget policies : access, organization and choice

Policies for people with disabilities have undergone a significant change internationally. In a shortperiod of time, the idea of 'personalisation of care' became the dominant narrative in many modernwelfare states worldwide. In essence, policymakers aim to transform care and support policies forpeople with disabilities from a supply-driven to a demand-driven practice. Personal budget policiesare one of the most tangible forms of personalization in practice. Instead of subsidizing careproviders, the government allocates resources in the form of a personal budget to the individual withsupport needs. With this budget the individual can make his own choices about how, where and bywhom he is supported. This policy should lead to more efficient, flexible and less paternalistic care.This dissertation studies the impact of this paradigm shift in care for people with disabilities with aspecific focus on the implementation, and on what the implications are for the role of government.Particular attention is paid to the three important tasks that the government assumes in this context:(1) providing access to care and support, (2) organizing a market of care and (3) providingopportunities for persons with disabilities and their networks to make choices in practice.Public defense: 2021-06-09Policies for people with disabilities have undergone a significant change internationally. In a shortperiod of time, the idea of 'personalisation of care' became the dominant narrative in many modernwelfare states worldwide. In essence, policymakers aim to transform care and support policies forpeople with disabilities from a supply-driven to a demand-driven practice. Personal budget policiesare one of the most tangible forms of personalization in practice. Instead of subsidizing careproviders, the government allocates resources in the form of a personal budget to the individual withsupport needs. With this budget the individual can make his own choices about how, where and bywhom he is supported. This policy should lead to more efficient, flexible and less paternalistic care.This dissertation studies the impact of this paradigm shift in care for people with disabilities with aspecific focus on the implementation, and on what the implications are for the role of government.Particular attention is paid to the three important tasks that the government assumes in this context:(1) providing access to care and support, (2) organizing a market of care and (3) providingopportunities for persons with disabilities and their networks to make choices in practice.D