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Are you dealing with learning disabilities either as an individual, carer or community worker?

24/08/2010

"Giving us a Voice" is funded by the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) under its Tackling Racial Inequalities Fund (TRIF). It is addressing the inequalities faced by people with learning disabilities from black, asian and minority ethnic groups which were highlighted in the Government's Learning Disability strategy, Valuing People Now.

People with learning disabilities face inequalities in many aspects of their lives, including the services that they receive, and people with learning disabilities from black, asian and minority ethnic backgrounds can suffer a double discrimination.

ARC (The Association for Real Change), working in partnership with the British Institute of Learning Disabilities and Mencap, will be drawing together family carers, service users and professionals in nine regional meetings around England later this year to help them identify their needs and priorities.

From these meetings, a Charter for Inclusion will be developed, and local statutory bodies and providers will be asked to sign up to this Charter to develop agreed appropriate services and support.

They are hopeful that this will be the start of a dialogue that will enable people with learning disabilities and their carers from BAME communities to take a greater role in service design, and for local health and social services to be better equipped to engage with them and meet their needs.

The South Eastern meeting is planned for 20th January 2011 in Brighton, (there is also one in London on 25th January).

ARC are very keen to make contact with as many family carers and people with a learning disability, from minority communities, prior to the regional event as well as encouraging them to attend.

If you would like to contact ARC to find out more about the project please get in touch with the project workers for the South East region:

Lesley Dean
T: 07894 390749
E: lesley.dean@arcuk.org.uk

Ola Odeyemi
T: 07540 902713
E: ola@bild.org.uk

If you are a member of the forum and wish to attend the meeting in Brighton please complete and return the booking form. Please inform Suzanne Akram of your intention to attend. Your second class travel expenses will be paid.