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editor’s diary

No hard rules on taking sides whom we were respite foster carers, was
playing a part.
Stewart and Lancaster lived nearby and
accepted an invitation to attend. They
We should encourage debate when opinion is split, says Simon were both terrific, not hogging the
Jarrett, who enjoys gossip, bright lights and celebrity company, limelight, interacting really well with all
the children and their families, remaining
and looks forward to reading the magazine under its new editor for the whole afternoon and showing no
signs of ego whatsoever.
It is unmistakeable when people are
lot of debate was sparked by our That year, she had invited footballer Paul authentically interested in those around
feature on the Down Syndrome Bill Gascoigne to turn on the Christmas lights. them, not just performing a duty.
A in the last issue. Some questioned She also invited people from the voluntary
whether the magazine should be neutral sector to attend as guests, one of whom Welcome to our new editor
over this or back one side or the other. was the secretary general of Mencap, Vice I hope readers will forgive the stream of
For what it’s worth, my opinion is that Admiral Sir Geoffrey Dalton KCB. gossip and name-dropping in this, my last
there are certain issues on which He was seen as an unusual choice to editor’s diary for Community Living.
Community Living should take a stand. lead Britain’s largest learning disability I’m moving on after six years, and it has
Incarcerating people in abusive charity. He had just retired from the navy, been a privilege to have had the job of
assessment and treatment centres for and seemed to have no experience of writing on and asking people to write
example, is wrong, and we should running charities or knowledge of about learning disability issues.
campaign relentlessly against this. learning disabilities. I have tried to have a whole spectrum of
Something like the Down Syndrome Bill, His secretary wrote back that while he voices, including articles by people with
on the other hand, has divided opinion in was very flattered to be asked to turn on learning disabilities themselves.
the learning-disabled community – the Regent Street lights, he was too busy to We have to find imaginative and creative
sometimes acrimoniously – and its come. Clearly, he was a bit more famous in approaches to many issues and problems,
consequences are not knowable. his own mind than in the minds of others. and no one set of answers will solve them.
On a matter such as that, I think the It is not all gloom, however – amazing
job of the magazine is to lay out the Celebrity attitude things have been going on in the
information available, give space to Two genuine celebrities who showed a bit performing and creative arts, for example,
different opinions and encourage a more modesty were Rod Stewart and and it’s been a pleasure to feature this.
respectful, creative debate. Penny Lancaster. There is some terrific practice in everyday
Not so long ago, I support, often against all the odds.
Bright lights, big head saw a nativity I am thrilled to be handing over to Saba
Years ago, I got into a play at a Salman. She is a wonderful writer whose
gossipy conversation with special school cutting-edge, campaigning journalism has
the chair of the Regent where a child not only won her awards but also brought
Street and Bond Street with profound serious issues that would otherwise have
Traders’ Association, who learning been overlooked into the public domain.
was organising a Christmas disabilities, for I look forward with great excitement
party for children with learning to reading Community Living under
disabilities in Westminster. Big egos or bright lights? her editorship. n

The value of people with learning application process could be addressed, Recruiting and supporting a research
disabilities as co-researchers has been the long-term management of supporting assistant with learning disabilities need a
established in recent studies and is shared a learning-disabled employee requires whole-team approach as planning and
in this article. However, being employed flexibility in approach and budgeting to working together require ongoing support
within a tertiary education setting is more allow support to continue beyond the and adjustments to working culture.
unusual and requires adjustments interview. Finding solutions to the barriers The findings in this paper offer guidance
by universities. identified meant the applicant could on making employment more accessible
People with learning disabilities bring accept the position. to people with learning disabilities.
value to their role in sharing lived The research presents a variety of Research assistant Richard Keagan-Bull
experience in the field of inclusive research. perspectives, namely the line manger wrote about his experience of working in
This value should be supported through seeking to fulfil a role, the human research in the last issue. He says: “It is
paid employment and opportunities to resources manager who managed the important to make things accessible for
contribute actively to research projects. recruitment process and the successful people with a learning disability as it’s
This study identifies significant barriers applicant who was offered the role of important for them to be able to do jobs
to employment, which begin with the research assistant. in an equal and accessible world.” n
application process.
Christy Lawrance loss of benefits from taking up work was a
For the applicant, concern regarding a
notable barrier. While initial barriers in
managing a contract and simplifying the

www.cl-initiatives.co.uk Community Living Vol 35 No 4 | Summer 2022 23