Intro: Jan Walmsley attended the launch of Learning Disability England where its chairman Gary Bourlet called for self-advocates, families, carers and organisations to work together to achieve change
Learning Disability England was launched in the House of Lords on a very showery June day. It was a tremendous event, chaired by the inimitable Gary Bourlet, backed by the Housing and Support Alliance, and attended by a fantastic number of self advocates and others from across the country. Its message was that we – self advocates, families and service providers – are stronger together. And, boy, do we need that voice now.
This is what Gary said about the new organisation:
“LDE is important because we want self-advocates to work closely with families, carers and organisations that work with people with learning disabilities, to come together and work together.
For far too long we have been working separately and our voices have not been strong enough on our own to make change.
To make change we need to work with others. United we stand, divided we fall.
Being an independent organisation is an important part of LDE for me. It will be steered by people, families and organisations.
We will campaign on what our members agree on and vote on what issues are important to us.
We will organise petitions, set out policies, go on demonstrations, marches and take direct action. Our trained self-advocates and family members will speak to the media on issues that affect us. We will also meet with politicians and trade unions.
We are creating this organisation now because for far too long services have been bad and self-advocates are tired of fighting a lone battle. By coming together we can fight for better changes in our lives. We also want the media and politicians to listen to us!
It is important that lots of people get involved as there is strength in numbers. We want people of all backgrounds, young, old, all ethnic minority groups, anyone who knows a person with learning disabilities, people with English as their second language, family and friends to join us”.
http://peoplefirstengland.org.uk/gary-bourlet/were-launching-learning-disability-england/
Memorable
Along with many self advocates, family members and representatives of those service providing organisations who have joined (and financially supported) LDE, two redoubtable peeresses were there. Baroness Sheila Hollins hosted the event, joined on the platform by Jane Campbell. Jane’s speech was especially memorable: “We are not vulnerable, we just find ourselves in vulnerable situations”. And, momentously, she acknowledged something people associated with self advocacy have been saying and thinking for many years, that the early disabled people’s movement, of which she was a leading light, failed to acknowledge the voice and different experiences of people with learning disabilities. She promised this will change.
Moving
The minute’s silence for all those who have died in Assessment and Treatment Units was incredibly moving. And, personally, I was delighted that my dear old friend Jackie Downer was one of a number of self advocates awarded lifetime membership of LDE.
At a time when austerity and benefit changes are hitting people and families hard, when self advocacy groups struggle for funds, when over 2,000 people remain in assessment and treatment units and when the noble ideals of Valuing People no longer guide policy, this united voice really is needed. It is to the credit of all involved that it has got this far, with many well wishers. Do join. LDE will need all our help and support as it seeks to establish itself. I really wish us luck.
To join: http://www.learningdisabilityengland.org.uk/
