There is extremely limited access to peer advocacy services for people with learning disabilities and/or autism in the South-East. We know that peer-led advocacy is highly effective as it offers mutual support, motivation, and inspiration. The Pro-Active Community functions as a platform that empowers individuals with disabilities to have their voices heard. They are a collective of self-advocates, supported by professionals in social care, striving to ensure that the needs of people with learning disabilities are addressed.
Advocacy work includes:
Ensuring wherever possible members are on the steering group of any organisation driving positive change in the care sector.
Using their lived experience to influence services for people with learning disabilities; e.g. acting as Quality Checkers for NHS and social care services in Surrey; consulting on a project to address obesity among people with learning disabilities; working as Peer Health and well-being champions in partnership with Surrey County Council; contributing to academic research, e.g. a project with Surrey University looking at people’s experience of virtual GP consultations, and two members joined the student midwifery learning disability awareness training co-design programme with The Together Project.
NHS and Me Films: Two PAC members were invited to share their experiences of medical appointments, bookings, and challenges with accessibility for adults with a learning disability, focusing on key medical conditions requiring specialist input such as diabetes or dermatology. These life stories will be used to provide learning disability awareness training for frontline Surrey Heartlands medical staff. The videos have highlighted the need for accessible communications and materials resulting in a review of best practices and processes.
Campaigning and advocacy: e.g., Members successfully campaigned to retain bus passes for people with learning disabilities. They ran an 'Act Now Our Planet' campaign to improve environmental awareness among care providers. They have partnered with Surrey and Sussex NHS Trust (SASH) to review all external communications to ensure they are in an accessible Easy Read format and are currently working with East Surrey Hospital’s communications teams to look at accessible signage throughout the building.
Information sharing through the Surrey People's Group (a group of people with lived experience of disability) which they facilitate in partnership with Surrey County Council. Through advocacy and co-production with Learning Disability England (LDE) and the Surrey People’s Group the Pro-Active Community has recently introduced a Disability Taxi Charter in Surrey. This is to improve taxi services for people who have learning disabilities and/or autism.
