Learning Disability England London Conference 2024
Joining 150 delegates at Learning Disability England’s London Conference, members from Pro-Active Community brought a voice to all the workshops hosted throughout the day.
This year’s conference focus is policies and politics, how aptly timed as groups across the UK are preparing for upcoming elections, local or general, more has to be done at government level to ensure all processes and practices are accessible, so everyone can vote in whatever way suits their accessibility needs best.
Hearing the thoughts of so many self advocates, family members and support or care staff it’s abundantly clear there is a huge amount of work to be done raising awareness to drive action.
If there is to be equity for learning disability, the question ‘how many people with learning disability are currently UK MPs’ was an intetesting one.
Great to hear from Aisha Edward sharing how LEWISHAM SPEAKING UP have produced effective easy read documents for employment and scams.
The Grace Eyre Foundation shared a brilliant interactive presentation encouraging engaging with local and government politicians to organise hustings and ways to improve easy read materials.
#MyVoteMyVoice presenters Dr Mark had the delegates thinking about taxes for utilities - a lot of passion was voiced about water costs, public transport and setting charges, roadways, prescription rights, and how government decisions affect everyone’s lives but haven’t always listened to what people need.
The conversations pointed everyone to how vitally important it is to vote - to have your say and help make necessary change.
Have a look at the Channel 4 film with news reporter Reuben Reuter and his documentary about voting and politics. What a powerful message - reasonable adjustments and accessibility aren’t difficult to adapt but take some deliberate effort - wouldn’t it be great if asking wasnt necessary, but mainstream.
Thank you to Samantha Clark, Gary Bourlet, Rachel Hall and everyone who has been a part of organising a very dynamic day with a lot of actions to come.
Scott Watkin BEM working with Donna from SeeAbility delivered a superb presentation as the good lives manifesto continues to be built.
Collecting everyone’s votes today on the 6 points suggested.
🗳️Accessible elections
✊Champion our rights
✅Social care reform
🏥Better health rights
💷Getting into paid work
🏡Choice in where I live
A positively charged day where everyone is in agreement, change will happen there are a lot of voices and determined people determined to be heard.
Great to see such interest and have really encouraging feedback from the screening of the ‘My Journey to Wellbeing’ film.
Viewers said it was ‘uplifting’ ‘motivating’ ‘the director has really captured the characters of those in the film - congratulations’
This was the first time this film has been seen by such a large audience!
