There are many different types of advocacy, from independent advocacy, to peer advocacy to what I would argue is the most important – self-advocacy!

Paid advocates are so important and I think could actually play a major role in supporting people with learning disabilities to self-advocate.

Blog from Scott Watkin – Paid Supporter Representative of Learning Disability England

On Tuesday I was at a reception at the Science Museum in London.

Blog by Ivan Olbrechts and James O’Rourke – Family and Friends Representatives of Learning Disability England

The new Health Secretary Wes Streeting has said that:

“Our NHS is broken, but not beaten. Together we can fix it. “

Announced on Monday, 21st October, the government has asked the public, NHS staff, and experts to help ‘fix’ the NHS via a new online platform:

Change.NHS.uk

October is Black History Month. This is a month that gives people the opportunity to share and celebrate the impact of black heritage and culture.

I wish that this was something that people were doing all year round, not just at this time, but I think it’s great that people are stopping to think about the good things black people have done through history.

There are lots of black people, especially women, who I look up to and have had an impact on my life.

Letitia Wright is a big role model for me. She is a Guyana-born actress who has overcome problems like depression and is now living in the UK and is a successful actress.

Gary Bourlet – Member and Engagement Lead for Learning Disability England

We speak a lot about what it means to lead good lives but not much about what it means to have a good death.  

People find death more difficult to talk about.  

To me, a good death would be a death that involves choice. I was able to plan what I wanted to happen before, during and after.  

The Representative Body have decided Learning Disability England will stop using the social media platform ‘X’ (formerly known as Twitter). 

We do not think that the way X works at the moment fits with the values of Learning Disability England as a movement that champions a rights-based approach based on equality, dignity and fairness.