This year’s theme for Learning Disability Week is ‘do you see me?’ and is all about being seen, heard and valued. At The Advocacy Project, user involvement is at the heart of what we do, and we run a range of projects year round to support individuals with a learning disability to have a voice about the health and social care services they use.
Below, we share some of our most recent project success stories and how we continue to strive for a world in which everyone has a voice.
Bi-Borough Learning Development User Involvement (Big Voice and Our Choice)
Our Learning Disability Representatives have supported Bikeworks to campaign extensively for the return of the Cycle Taxi Project, an all ability club which provides access to a fleet of adapted and specialist bikes. This has now been re-funded and re-started, helping to increase people’s confidence to get out and about and meet people for the first time.
Our groups have also raised concerns at the Westminster Health & Social Focus group about the closure of the public toilets on the Harrow Road, and have since learnt that the Harrow Road toilets will be converted into accessible toilets so people with disabilities and mobility issues will also be able use them. It’s a great success for people with learning disabilities!
Camden Mental Health User Involvement project
The Learning Disability group successfully worked with Public Health Camden’s ‘Mental Health Needs Assessment’ team to advise on co-production strategies for recruitment – developing more equal partnerships between people who use services, their carers and professionals. Their involvement helped ensure that user voices are taken into account throughout the recruitment process.
Camden Learning Disabilities User Involvement (Synergy)
Synergy is our speaking up group for people with learning disabilities in Camden (find out more about their work here). Our Learning Disability Reps participated in an event for adults who are autistic, have mental health conditions, or learning disabilities: “The British Museum presents Jargon, no jargon, London”. Synergy Reps designed the event in collaboration with the British Museum, based on the question: ‘Why do museums use jargon and big words?’ helping to make this cultural space more accessible and a welcoming space for individuals with a range of different communication styles.