Latest News

Using our voice, making our choice – A Guest Blog by Scott Watkin, BEM.

Date: 30/5/2024

Scott Watkin BEM, is Head of Engagement at SeeAbility and Co-Chair of Learning Disability England’s Representative Body.

“When I was younger it was really positive to have a government strategy for people with learning disabilities. It gave us all something to focus on. We were all moving in the same direction. We have lost that focus and direction over many years.“
But the good news is the Good Lives Manifesto is there to help us all to change that!

How the Good Lives Manifesto 2024 came about and how you can support it – a blog by Gary Bourlet

Date: 21/5/2024

Gary Bourlet, Self-Advocate & Membership and Engagement Lead for Learning Disability England

For the past 40 years, myself and other self-advocates have been campaigning hard for the rights of all of those of us with learning disabilities.

A Rep Body Statement on the Prime Minister’s speech about PIP and ‘Sick Note Culture’

Date: 26/4/2024

Written by Representative Body members of Learning Disability England

“They insult us”

Last week Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said in a speech that the government will change the rules about who will decide if people cannot work because they are ill or disabled.

He also said the government will look at how Personal Independence Payments work.

Getting Seen, Getting Heard, Getting Involved for Good Support

Date: 18/4/2024

An Update from Gary and Mary on the Houses of Parliament Reception to Launch the Future of Care 5 Report written by the Social Care APPG in March 2024

All In This Together – A blog by Sarah Maguire

Date: 11/4/2024

Sarah is the CEO of Choice Support, a social care Community Benefit Society that creates opportunities for happiness for people with learning disabilities, mental health needs and autistic people.

We really are stronger and louder together.

I spent three joyous weeks in February 2024 at the Learning Disability England Conferences. As members, you know that Learning Disability England exists to bring people and organisations together to create a movement for change where people with learning disabilities, families, friends, and paid supporters come together on an equal basis.

Self-Advocacy and Community – A blog by Gary Bourlet

Date: 19/3/2024

Gary Bourlet, Self-Advocate & Membership and Engagement Lead for Learning Disability England

One thing I love about being a self-advocate is that I get to meet lots of other self-advocates from all around the country. In February I met lots of new people at the Learning Disability England conferences.

‘Using The Law’ – A blog update from Kate Chate.

Date: 26/2/2024

Kate is a Family and Friends member of Learning Disability England’s Representative Body, and a Family Consultant for Dimensions UK. Kate has written this Plain English blog for members, about being part of a group called ‘Using The Law’

Using the Law

The Access Social Care charity and Social Care Future are running a group called ‘Using the Law‘.

The group has been set up to “empower individuals and organisations with the necessary knowledge to navigate the legal landscape of social care.”

Why your right to vote is important – A blog by Gary Bourlet.

Date: 20/2/2024

Gary Bourlet, Self-Advocate & Membership and Engagement Lead for Learning Disability England

“It’s great to vote, ‘cause then you get a say on who’s going to be running the country” (Dr Mark Brookes, MBE).

There will be local elections in May and a general election later this year. Every adult in England has the right to vote. But how do we make sure we can? We want to make sure that those of us with learning disabilities are able to use our right to vote.

Council policies and the right to independent living

Date: 13/2/2024

‘Meet the Reps’: What we heard from members – January 2024 Update

Date: 12/1/2024

In September the Rep Body held 3 sessions to meet members.

It was great to meet people from across the membership and have a chance to hear about the issues that are important.

We wanted to share an update about what we heard in those meetings and what actions we are taking from that.