People First – a voice for people with learning disabilities
By Denise Nanni and Milena Rampoldi,
ProMosaik. In the following our interview with Andrew of People First, an organization
supporting people with learning difficulities, and led by people with learning
difficulties. Andrew told us “We would
like to see a strong user led disability movement in every country that needs
it”. And I think that this is the essential point: we have to network, and get
in touch with other realities of the same kind all over the world. Networking
also helps to overcome barriers and discrimination.
ProMosaik. In the following our interview with Andrew of People First, an organization
supporting people with learning difficulities, and led by people with learning
difficulties. Andrew told us “We would
like to see a strong user led disability movement in every country that needs
it”. And I think that this is the essential point: we have to network, and get
in touch with other realities of the same kind all over the world. Networking
also helps to overcome barriers and discrimination.
Your organization’s aim is to
support people with learning difficulties. Could you
ask for your assistance?
support people with learning difficulties. Could you
ask for your assistance?
We are an organisation run and led
by people with learning difficulties.
with learning difficulties and local self-advocacy groups that are also run and
led by people with learning difficulties.
group members with learning difficulties have voting rights at our annual
general meetings.
organisations, disabled peoples organisations, ministers and government
departments.
work is more effective and reaches more people.
by people with learning difficulties.
with learning difficulties and local self-advocacy groups that are also run and
led by people with learning difficulties.
group members with learning difficulties have voting rights at our annual
general meetings.
organisations, disabled peoples organisations, ministers and government
departments.
work is more effective and reaches more people.
What are the main problems that
people with learning difficulties
and related to prejudices)
people with learning difficulties
and related to prejudices)
People with learning difficulties
all have different access needs, but we find that in order to make the world an
accessible place and to get rid of barriers people need accessible information,
support and advocacy.
these things, but these are generally the things that help to get rid of
barriers in an inaccessible world.
all have different access needs, but we find that in order to make the world an
accessible place and to get rid of barriers people need accessible information,
support and advocacy.
these things, but these are generally the things that help to get rid of
barriers in an inaccessible world.
Without accessible information,
support and advocacy everything and anything becomes inaccessible.
accessible information, support and advocacy are not given this means that
people cannot access health, employment, education, services, politics,
activities or even the law and their rights.
things it means that people do not have choice and control and cannot live
independently.
support and advocacy everything and anything becomes inaccessible.
accessible information, support and advocacy are not given this means that
people cannot access health, employment, education, services, politics,
activities or even the law and their rights.
things it means that people do not have choice and control and cannot live
independently.
Prejudice and hate crime are also a
huge issues for people with learning difficulties.
something that affects all people with learning difficulties. It is something
that is getting worse at the moment as a result of the way that the Government
and the media talk about disabled people and people that use benefits and
social services.
huge issues for people with learning difficulties.
something that affects all people with learning difficulties. It is something
that is getting worse at the moment as a result of the way that the Government
and the media talk about disabled people and people that use benefits and
social services.
Do you think that the public sector
could do more, in terms of cooperation with organizations like yours, and how?
could do more, in terms of cooperation with organizations like yours, and how?
In the UK the Government are
starting to realise the value of Disabled People’s User Led Organisations
(DPULO’s).
application processes for running services, this is often not a possibility for
smaller DPULO’s.
be different in different local areas.
starting to realise the value of Disabled People’s User Led Organisations
(DPULO’s).
application processes for running services, this is often not a possibility for
smaller DPULO’s.
be different in different local areas.
After years of experience can you
say what are the most effective practices in order to promote advocacy and
support of people with learning difficulties?
say what are the most effective practices in order to promote advocacy and
support of people with learning difficulties?
There needs to be more research into
how effective support and advocacy can be.
important it is, but we need evidence on a much larger scale.
are currently applying for funding together with two other organisations to test
run a holistic peer support service for people with learning difficulties in
Lambeth.
shared nationally.
how effective support and advocacy can be.
important it is, but we need evidence on a much larger scale.
are currently applying for funding together with two other organisations to test
run a holistic peer support service for people with learning difficulties in
Lambeth.
shared nationally.
Much of service provision is still
very medical model and focuses much more on what you can’t do without advocacy
and support than what you could do with the right advocacy and support!
is why promoting the social model of disability is such an important part of
promoting advocacy and support.
very medical model and focuses much more on what you can’t do without advocacy
and support than what you could do with the right advocacy and support!
is why promoting the social model of disability is such an important part of
promoting advocacy and support.
We would like to see a strong user
led disability movement in every country that needs it.
led disability movement in every country that needs it.
