Leading players in learning disability services recognised in New Year’s Honours

Dedicated staff from learning disability services and charities have been recognised for their work in the Queen’s New Year Honours List. Those who have been given an award include people who have worked with self-advocates with learning disabilities, and as heads of charities and headteachers of special schools. Jayne Leeson, chief executive of Changing Our Lives, received an MBE for services to people with learning disabilities. In 2002, Leeson supported a group of self-advocates with learning disabilities to establish the charity. Since then, she has worked alongside self-advocates to develop Changing Our Lives into an organisation that is recognised locally