Page 23 - Community Living Issue 31-3

living a life: political participation

hear our voices: strong, loud and clear

Politics has a huge effect on people with learning disabilities. sara
Pickard became deeply involved, which led to her involvement with
the growing international self-advocacy movement

am 34, have down’s syndrome and In particular, my role as the self- stage. Two of the key messages coming
have worked for mencap cymru for advocate council member for Europe for from Brussels were:
i over 10 years now. In that time, I have Inclusion International over the past few ● We don’t need help – we need support
worked on a range of projects with people years has allowed me to meet and work ● We must make sure that our voices are
of all ages who have learning disabilities. with others who feel the same as me in being heard stronger, louder and clearer.
For the first of those projects – Partners many different countries. Inclusion International has launched a
in Politics – I visited schools and colleges Self-advocacy involves speaking up for major project called empower Us, a global
throughout Wales to encourage those with yourself and speaking up for others, and self-advocacy resource led by self-advocates,
learning disabilities to be more aware of there is now a growing network of groups families, supporters and their organisations.
the difference politics can make to their right across the world who want to spread A worldwide empower Us action team will
lives, and to encourage them vote. this vital message. This was clearly spread the global message and respond to
I thought I ought to “practise what I demonstrated at the Inclusion Europe Hear calls for help on self-advocacy.
preached” so I stood for election as an our Voices: Strong, Loud and Clear From 30 May to 1 June this year,
independent community councillor for my conference in Brussels at the end of last year. empower Us will be involved in a World
local area. I cannot believe that not only was Inclusion International council members Summit at the 17th World Congress of
I elected but also I am now in my third term were among the 70 delegates from 20 Inclusion International in the UK in
of office, and still enjoy that responsibility. countries. Along with over 200 people Birmingham, which has as its theme “Learn,
I have always enjoyed speaking up with disabilities, we attended the fourth Inspire, Lead”. The congress will be the
about the things that are important to me European Parliament of Persons with largest gathering of self-advocates, families,
and, in recent years, have had more Disabilities in the parliament building. It friends and supporters in the world.
opportunities to become involved with was inspiring to see self-advocates from If you have an interest in this work – in
organisations as a self-advocate. across Europe speaking on such a big whatever capacity – why not join us and
add your voice, share your experience,
and be part of a movement for change?
Hope to see you there! n
On International Women’s Day, Sara
Pickard was named as one of the 100
most inspirational women in Wales by
Wales Online.

n Inclusion International: http://inclusion-
international.org
n World Congress of Inclusion International:
www.worldcongress2018.com/
n For information about Empower Us and
Mladen Katanić becoming involved with the action team:
http://selfadvocacyportal.com/

f http://tinyurl.com/yd2cx3wh
Sara Pickard with fellow delegates at the European Parliament of Persons with Disabilities t @_EmpowerUs

highlight the need to find systematic ways This study contributes to our family. London: the
of providing support to fathers in this understanding of how these services are Stationery Office
support as well as mothers. experienced by fathers with learning
disabilities who may experience similar The research was
conclusion stresses, but be less likely to receive funded by the
It is already established that the stress of preventive support. n School for Social
parenting is associated with poor mental ● Find information about the Working Care Research,
health for parents with learning disabilities. Together with Parents Network here: part of the
There is also substantial evidence that http://www.bristol.ac.uk/sps/wtpn/ National
child welfare services tend to focus on the Institute for
needs and activities of mothers and References Health
engage less effectively with fathers. Cabinet Office (2007) Reaching Out: think Research

www.cl-initiatives.co.uk Community Living Vol 31 No 3 | Spring 2018 23