With massive government overhauls happening to health, social care, education and welfare, people with learning disabilities, families and supporters voices being heard is vital.
Learning Disability England is a movement that brings together people with the experience and knowledge to know what needs to happen next.
This five-part event series will give those voices a platform, to help us all understand what really needs to change for people with learning disabilities and their families to lead better lives.
In these (open to all) sessions throughout Autumn, they will think and talk together about:
- Their experiences over the last 10 years, working towards good lives and reflecting on what has made a difference.
- What needs to change over the next decade, from their perspectives, so that more people with learning disabilities and their families can live good lives.
There will also be opportunities for you, as an attendee, to feed in your own views and shape the work of Learning Disability England going forward.
You will be:
- Informing Learning Disability Englands work locally and nationally
- Reminding each other what really matters and what needs to happen to make a difference before 2036.
Anyone who would like to help Learning Disability England think about the next 10 years can sign up to attend the sessions – you do not have to be a member to come.
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.
Self-advocate led session – October 15th 2026, 1-3pm
Speakers:
- Brighton and Hove Speak Up
- Speak Up Self Advocacy
- Lewisham Speaking Up
- Survive and Thrive Project team
Families led session – October 20th 2026, 6-7pm
Speakers:
- Sharon Smith
- Kieron Smith
- Ramandeep Kaur
- Parmi Dheensa
- Liz Wilson
- Paula Strike
Support worker led session – October 27th 2026, 12-1pm
Speakers:
- Katie Peacock Community 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
Service provider led session – November 12th 2026, 2-3pm
Speakers:
- 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
System leader led session – November 18th 2026, 2-3pm
Speakers:
- 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
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 all of the panel sessions below. Please share with your networks too!