Latest News

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.

The LeDeR Report – Action all supporters can take.

Date: 5/12/2023

Getting Housing Right in York and North Yorkshire

Date: 4/12/2023

North Yorkshire County Council and City of York Council are carrying out a housing needs assessment to understand what housing needs local people have.

Understanding what is important to local people helps local authorities to plan for the future.

The Impact of Advocacy

Date: 15/11/2023

Gary Bourlet, Membership and Engagment Lead for Learning Disability England introduces a new film

Learning Disability England and Speakup Advocacy have been putting together a film called ‘Impact of Advocacy’.

It looks at the changes that have happened since people with a learning disability have felt empowered to speak up for themselves.

It looks into the important history of the self-advocacy movement and speaks to many inspirational people with a learning disability about their stories.

Last week we launched the film as part of Advocacy Awareness Week.

As a figure in the Self-Advocacy movement for over 37 and half years and a co-founder of People First in the UK, I have personally seen the impact it has made over the years.

Annual General Members Meeting

Date: 31/10/2024

There is now a date set for the next Annual General Members meeting.

It is on 3rd December 2024 at 10am

The meeting will be happening online over Zoom.