Simon Cramp, Self-advocate, Campaigner and Lifetime Member of Learning Disability England, reviews new ITV Series The Assembly.

The Assembly is a new entertainment series where celebrities are questioned by a group of inquisitive interviewers who are autistic, neurodivergent and/or learning disabled.

Simon has been avidly following the new series and giving his thoughts on each episode along the way.

At the beginning of May, the government announced how the Social Care Commission will work – they shared the Terms of Reference.

These say what the commission will work on and the deadlines for doing its work.

You can read them here

Before the Commission officially started Baroness Casey met with some people who draw on support.

Mary, one of the Learning Disability England elected member reps was at that meeting and shared this update.

Before the meeting, Baroness Casey had asked us to be ready to share what we want her to focus on in the work of the commission – that took up most of the meeting as we all had a lot to say about that.

I didn’t know everyone in the room but I think there were about 6 people who draw on support there. It was good to see Anna from Social Care Futures and Clenton from TLAP were part of this.

I said that Baroness Casey should make sure the commission includes everyone in its work and not forget people with profound and multiple learning disability who get left out too often.

This is a chance to make a difference to how social care works – I am excited at the possibilities.

Learning Disability England will keep working with the commission team and members, to help them be part of the inquiry and make sure what matters to people with learning disabilities, their families and paid supporters is included.

This includes sharing what is working now.

The Good Lives framework brings together what matters and what works – find out more here.

The Down Syndrome Act became law in 2022 – you can more about the act and watch some films made by the Down Syndrome Association here.

Since 2021, Learning Disability England has been working with members on the Down Syndrome Act.

Sue Sharples, member of the Lancashire Friends and Relationships Group, talks about how the group has been working to raise awareness of the importance of love and affection in the lives of people with a learning disability and using Good Lives to guide their work…

In Lancashire we have a group that thinks about how relationships opportunities can be improved for people with a learning disability.

It is called the Friends and Relationships Group and is a sub-group of the Learning Disability Partnership Board.

The members include self-advocates and paid and voluntary staff from health, adult social care and provider organisations.

Alongside our agreed long-term plan for change we have used the Good Lives Framework, especially Chapter 4: To love and be loved to guide our thoughts and actions.

This has been very helpful, and we are pleased to see the refreshed version, with an added focus on human rights. Our plan is here.

We try to make sure that all of our relevant partner organisations are working towards the same aim of people being better informed about sexual rights and responsibilities, including providing scope for the development of safe and enriching relationships.

We believe that it is important to make things happen, not just talk about them.

Blog from Gary Bourlet, Membership and Engagement Lead at Learning Disability England

On the 13th March, I went to the Challenging Behaviour Foundation’s launch of the ‘What Matters to Me’ project at the House of Commons.

It was great to be part of this event, hear about the project findings and meet lots of people I did and didn’t know already.

This project is so important – the voice of people who don’t use speaking to communicate is not being heard and they are not involved in policy decisions that affect their lives.

April 10th is National Siblings Day – Learning Disability England echos the words of member Sibs who say ‘we know what a valuable role siblings play in the lives of their disabled brothers and sisters, how unique their relationship can be and how they need to be recognised and celebrated in their own right‘.

To mark the day, James O’Rourke, Family and Friends Member Representative at Learning Disability England and proud sibling to Tony O’Rourke, reflects on his and Tony’s personal story and the importance of sibling relationships…

Growing up with a sibling who has a learning disability brings a mix of emotions, challenges, and incredible rewards. It’s a unique journey—one filled with love, lessons, and moments that shape who you become.

John Hersov, who has worked closely and supported self-advocates with learning disabilities since the 1980’s, reflects on his experiences, what has changed since he began his career, and how self advocates have shaped his outlook today…

I have always liked working with groups of people with learning disabilities and autism.         

I taught “Speaking for Ourselves” classes at the City Lit Adult Education Institute in Central London through the 1980s and 1990s.

To celebrate the launch of the refreshed Good Lives framework, Learning Disability England is focusing in on one chapter every two weeks.

From the 31st March to April 11th the big focus is on Chapter 5: “Effective Voice – Self Advocacy and Advocacy.“

This week we wanted to spotlight the latest episode of the People First Podcast and its focus on the Learning Disability England 2025 in-person conference!

To celebrate the launch of the refreshed Good Lives framework, Learning Disability England is focusing in on one chapter every two weeks.

From March 17th to March 28th, the theme has been ‘Employment and Contribution’.

The welfare reform announcements made in parliament last week were a reminder of the way society can speak about and treat disabled people.