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conference reports

Providing support, not taking over off door frames trying to get a look in.
At least as striking were the presence
and leadership of family advocates,
earning disability england held its were leaders, presenters and actors on professionals and providers. They did not
inaugural conference, with the the main stage at the event. He take over or pull strings from the gallery
ltheme of the challenge of change, considered whether this matched LDE’s nor fall short of providing the advocacy,
in Birmingham in december 2017, ambition for self-advocates to have a advice and information that is needed to
writes Jo Clare. direct and authentic voice in and be at support the challenge of change.
LDE had been launched only six the centre of the movement for change. As well as insightful contributions from
months previously in June 2016, with the family carers such as Wendy Burt and Liz
strapline Stronger, Louder, Together. It Wilson, there were invaluable
was founded by self-advocate Gary “ Interest in the presentations and sessions on subjects
Bourler and Alicia Wood, former chief supported loving session such as personal independence
executive of the Housing and Support payments, funding for housing and
Alliance. was so great people were sleep-in payments.
The event showed LDE had the hanging off door frames Professor Chris Hatton reported on
hallmarks of an organisation that was what is happening to people in
still young and excited about its to get a look in assessment and treatment units and
development and potential, but already This sense of voice was mirrored by ” inpatient services. For those who are still
coming of age and starting to realise its being detained and segregated
vision in the way that it did business inappropriately, as well as for those who
Karen Kirkpatrick, chief executive of lots of good-natured heckling, witty are so disabled that self-advocacy is not
Keyring and chair of LDE, asked in her banter and spontaneous speaking out possible, support from family carers with
conference address: “How can from people with learning disabilities; experience of this situation and
organisations back the ideas of people this demonstrated that, when self- advocacy by professionals and
with learning disabilities without taking advocacy is given the support, stage and organisations are crucial.
over?” status that it deserves, it can become If this conference is a mark of LDE’s
Answers came from models of good infectious and spread. intent, then at long last the sector has
practice exemplified throughout the day Most of the day’s content, including the potential for a united movement for
– including a well-received presentation sessions on supporting employment and social change – with people with
from Angela Catley from Community staying safe online, flowed directly from learning disabilities at the centre, not
Catalysts – and the conference itself was the known concerns of people with the edges. LDE is not just one voice of
a great advert for backing people learning difficulties and were learning disability but many voices and,
without taking over. correspondingly popular. Interest in the so far, is promising to live up to its
Gary Bourlet looked at the extent to supported loving session, for example, strapline, Stronger Louder Together.
which people with learning disabilities was so great that people were hanging ●●www.learningdisabilityengland.org.uk

care assessment guide, capacity in religion and a call to listen to parents

dvocacy Focus celebrated 20 years Should religious practices of removing Mark Neary:
of work with its Breaking Barriers body hair and fasting be followed with a it took him
aconference in Preston in March, young Muslim man with no speech and a nearly a year
writes Rose Trustam history of challenging behaviour? to get his son
The court ruled, with intervention from back home
highlights a psychiatrist and a cultural expert, that after respite
care
● Care assessments Advocacy Focus neither the fasting nor the hair removal
launched its Justice for Lb toolkit, which were necessary or in his best interests.
was developed in consultation with However, it was right that he should join
Lancashire self-advocates. This gives in eid and family celebrations, which he
professionals tools to help people with enjoyed.
learning difficulties become more involved The cultural expert clarified that, as the person’s best interests.
with their care assessments; it also young man did not have legal ● Stephen Neary case Mark Neary
provides information and guidelines about competence, there was no obligation to (pictured) told of his shocking journey of
working with people who have learning carry out religious rites and that he would 350 days to get his son Stephen home
disabilities or communication or cognitive be seen as being in a perpetually after three days of booked respite.
issues. Download the toolkit from: www. heightened state of spirituality (a comfort Listening to parents remains a huge issue.
advocacyfocus.org.uk/justiceforlb. to the parents). For the story, see https://rightsinfo.org/
● Capacity A barrister led a workshop that The case showed that where there is give-back-son-human-rights-brought-
Rose Trustam examined a court of protection case about anxiety about racism or discrimination, steven-neary-home; mark Neary’s blog is
at https://markneary1dotcom1.
resolution can be reached by following
religious observance (IH (Observance of
wordpress.com.
muslim Practice) [2017] eWCOP 9).
the mental Cpacity Act and acting in the
www.cl-initiatives.co.uk Community Living Vol 31 No 4 | Summer 2018 25