LDC outlines 15 ways to make life better for people with learning disabilities

The Learning Disability Coalition has launched a report that outlines 15 ways that life can be improved for people with learning disabilities in the next decade.

‘Agreeing Together – a contract for the future’ lists 15 agreements of what needs to happen to make sure that people with a learning disability can live the lives they want to lead. The agreements have been created from the ideas of many people with a learning disability.

The agreements are:

• We all agree that everyone should be valued and treated equally and fairly
• We all agree that everyone should know about and understand learning disability
• We all agree that everyone should be safe and live free from fear and hate crime
• We all agree that everyone should be supported to speak for themselves or have someone who can speak for them
• We all agree that everyone should have information in a way that they can understand it.
• We all agree that everyone should be part of communities that support them and to be able to help others as well
• We all agree that everyone should be able to get out and about cheaply and safely
• We all agree that everyone should be supported in their family life, relationships and friendships
• We all agree that everyone should have a holiday and a social life
• We all agree that everyone should have enough money to live a reasonable life
• We all agree that everyone should have something to do and the chance of a job
• We all agree that everyone should have a choice of where to live
• We all agree that everyone should have the support they need including staff who are trained to do their job properly
• We all agree that everyone should have good quality healthcare
• We all agree that everyone should be supported to have an independent life and be able to make their own decisions.

The report comes at an important time for social care, with the imminent launch of a Government white paper and a draft bill outlined in the recent Queen’s Speech.  The LDC is asking MPs to sign up to the contract and support people with learning disabilities.

Anthea Sully, director of the LDC, said: “Whilst there have been many improvements in the lives of people with learning disabilities over the past 40 years, especially in regard to the closure of the long stay hospitals, there is still a way to go to make sure that people are able to live the lives they want to lead. Many people are not getting the social care support or good quality healthcare they need. It is extremely difficult for someone with a learning disability to get a job and many people are living in poverty. There is also the horror of living with the fear of hate crime.”