In 2016, Learning Disability England was officially launched.
Co-founders Gary Bourlet and Alicia Wood have been speaking about why they wanted to help start Learning Disability England and what they remember of its early years:
To celebrate this 10-year milestone, Learning Disability England is hosting a series of online events.
Each session will have a different group of members thinking and talking together about their experiences over the last 10 years and as importantly, what needs to happen over the next 10 years so that more people with learning disabilities and their families can live good lives.
Anyone who would like to hear more from people about their experiences and help Learning Disability England think about its next 10 years can sign up to attend the sessions.
You do not need to be a member to come to this.
Each event will hear from a different group of members:
You are welcome to come to as many of the events as you would like. It will be great to see the same faces across different events.
You don’t have to come only to the session that best fits who you are. Stronger, louder, together.
The events will be chaired by members of the Learning Disability England Representative Body and Trustees and feature speakers who are leaders and voices from each of these groups.
Speakers at the self-advocate led session include:
- Brighton and Hove Speak Up
- Speak Up Self Advocacy
- Lewisham Speaking Up
- Survive and Thrive Project team
Speakers at the support workers led session include:
- Katie Peacock Support Worker at Exclusively Inclusive
- Hazel Hendrickson sister of someone with learning disabilities
- Sally Warren, from ‘Together works’ and Facilitator for LDE
- Ian Saunders Support Worker at C-Change
- Sui Ling Self Advocate, Podcaster at MacIntyre
- Kathryn Whitfield, Programme Manager, North Wales Together
Speakers at the service providers led session:
- Helen England, Chief Executive at Brandon Trust
- Les Warren, The Managing Director at Reside with Progress
- Tracy Roberts, Deputy Chief Executive at Darlington Association on Disability
- Melanie Kerkeni, Director at Getta Life
Speakers at the system leaders led session include:
- Oonagh Smyth, Chief Executive Officer of Skills for Care
- Hazel Summers, Joint Director of Social Care Improvement at Local Government Association
- Rebecca Bauers, Director for people with a learning disability and autistic people – Care Quality Commission
- Dr Nick Broughton – National Director Appointed for Mental Health, Learning Disability, and Autism
Together, they will share their thoughts on:
What has changed over the last 10 years for people with learning disabilities?
What needs to happen in the next 10 years for all people with learning disabilities to be able to live a good life in 2036?
Stronger, louder, together is how we make change happen, so join us to hear and share experiences, ideas and look to the future we want to see.
You can book your place/s at the Good Lives in 2036 panel sessions below.