When we launched Learning Disability England we awarded lifetime memberships to 8 self-advocates who had inspired us. We’ve been interviewing them so you can get to know them better!
Here’s our second interview with Jenny Carter. Jenny is an active self-advocate in Wirral and Director of Together All Are Able.
One of the reasons Jenny was made a lifetime member of LDE was for her work on social media where she speaks up and uses her platform to really challenge organisations.
How did you become a self-advocate?
I became a self advocate by doing Partners in Policymaking course.
If you could change one thing that would make life better for people with learning disabilities, what would it be?
I would make it so that people are treated fairly have the same access to everything that others do.
What needs to happen for people with learning disabilities to have good homes?
More affordable housing and understanding landlords.
What does supported living mean to you?
It means that people have better lives and are able to create and lead their own support with the help they need.
If you could say one thing to all of our member organisations, what would it be?
Work with and involve people with Learning Disabilities. Support self advocacy and help us to have a life.
What do you think is the biggest challenge for LDE?
Funding, lack of access to the community support and communication.
What are your hopes for LDE?
That we are able to lead and create our own support so we can have a good life.
What’s your advice to other self-advocates who want to speak up?
Keep speaking up, work with us and don’t have a go at each other.
Tell us about a time when you’ve spoken up and something has changed.
The service model for the Wirral and Cheshire delivery hub (which is part of Transforming Care) is now being co-produced with us.