Page 19 - Community Living Magazine 35-2

editor’s diary

An incendiary suggestion academics who have no idea what a
I have spoken to distinguished
learning disability is, and who then send
me a link to an interesting article on
A former resident gives the definitive retort when asked if he “madness” because they think that is
wants to go back to an institution, plus what it means to be what I am talking about.
It’s not just academics. I’ve experienced
human is quite straightforward, says Simon Jarrett this with local and national politicians,
teachers, employers – just about any
group I can think of.
hen the long-stay hospitals Being human It is no wonder that when a group of
were closing in the 1980s and I’ve just been reading a book about people fall so far below the radar of so
W1990s, I was working for an human nature and I have realised we do many, they find themselves on the edges
organisation in London setting up things the wrong way around. of society.
supported housing for people who were People are always puzzling over what it
returning to their communities. is that makes us human and distinguishes Trailblazers in tough times
Many had been taken away as children, us from other animals. They come up with People with learning disabilities as a group
and were now returning to places they all sorts of explanations – the ability to be have come through the intense challenges
hardly knew after decades inside. social, to make things, to have a sense of of the pandemic with great credit.
We were constantly warned by hospital the future or the past, to laugh or to cry, Despite the greater medical
staff that the moves would not work. to be able to think abstractly and so on. susceptibility of some, and the high
People, we were told, would fall The problem is that once we start making exposure of many as a result of economic
downstairs, fall out of windows, these rules, they never apply to all humans. and social circumstances, people with
walk into roads and be run over, Many people don’t make things, some learning disabilities have been real
electrocute themselves or die from an don’t wish to be social, others might care trailblazers in the resilience, creativity and
unfamiliar diet. little about the future or the past. We sheer determination they have shown.
None of these things ever happened. therefore start to create categories of Self-advocacy groups have flourished,
As a precaution, everyone who moved exclusion – if you don’t do this or that, setting up mutual help plans to protect
could decide to move back to the hospital you are not fully human. against isolation and danger. Thousands
at a six-month review. The answer surely is that to be have embraced online connection, even if
One older man, who since moving had human means you were born to two they were wary of it before.
gone abroad for the first time on a human parents. Artists have created, performers have
camping holiday to France and made a The job of human societies is to ensure performed and activists have beaten a
regular daily trip to the bookies to place there is a place for all those born human. path to the heart of government over vital
his horseracing bets, was asked at his If we start from there, there is no place issues such as vaccine prioritisation.
review if he’d like his bed back. for exclusion or institutions. This is a group that many members of
“You can burn your ******* bed,” the public, employers, politicians and
he replied. Below the radar, on the edge others think struggle to learn and do things.
I still think that is the most succinct I am continually surprised by people As a group who always have to face
comment on an institution I have whose faces go blank when the words adversity, they have shown a resilience
ever heard. “learning disability” are mentioned. that puts many of us to shame. n

place to me, it affects my health and “I have been to a council meeting about
during lockdown this played an important the gas works on the allotment. I felt very
role. It’s very good for my health important but also enjoyed listening to
and wellbeing.” different points of view. After I left the
Wisby is worried about the project’s meeting I felt good, and saw others
future. “If it closes, it will damage the outside the town hall,” he says.
environment and wildlife, and cause He feels that the takeover of green
suffering to members’ health, to nature spaces is “a government problem not just
and to the wildlife habitat. We use the site a local one”.
to better our health – otherwise, we Wisby was also inspired by the petition
would have nothing.” and has since voiced his thoughts on the
The plot holders on the site came issue on the Uniting Friends radio station.
together and a petition was started to Both of the men will continue to protest.
save the site. Local papers and radio Wisby sums up: “The allotment is a place
Digging for victory: gardeners present a petition became involved. of peace and rest and a place of good.” n
and speak out at a council meeting The importance of this small green oasis ● https://www.unitingfriends.org.uk/
surrounded by concrete is not to be ● The full story and link to petitions is at:
“I share my knowledge to others, in ignored and Fowke and Wisby joined wnstd.com/rlw
plants, veg and nature, conservation others to present a petition against the
and to teach people. It’s good for the proposals to the council. Fowke was Deborah Williams is project coordinator at
environment. This site is a very important impressed by the proceedings. Sprout There!

www.cl-initiatives.co.uk Community Living Vol 35 No 2 | Winter 2022 19