National Response to the Abuse of People with Learning Disabilities
Item from Lynn James-Jenkinson from the North West
Training and Development Team and Pathways Associates
CIC:
Since the Panorama programme was aired on 31st May I have been
working with a small group of people nationally which has included
the co-chairs of the National Forum, representatives of the
National Valuing Families Forum, NDTi, BILD, Foundation for People
with Learning Disabilities, MENCAP and others (see attached letter
for a full list) to draft a co-ordinated national response to
Government on what should be done in response to the Winterbourne
View abuse. Also to consider what should be done to help ensure
people do not continue to be put at risk of facing such abuse.
As a result the group, has produced a national response which
has now been signed by 86 individuals and organisations who have
been involved personally and professionally for many years to
support children and adults with a learning disability live their
lives as full and equal citizens in our society.We don't claim it
is perfect, it is based upon what the small group of us in a room
could discuss and agree on in two and a half hours! A
number of other organisations have since added their signatories to
the original 15 or so of us in the time we had
available as we wished to make it as clear as possible that
the learning disability field feels collective outrage about this
and are united in wanting to see action. We have sent this
response now in the form of a letter to Rt Honourable David
Cameron MP and the contents have been made public this morning
(22/5/11).
A copy of the letter can be found at http://www.nwtdt.com/email/national-response-pm.pdf
An Easy Read version of the paper can be found at
http://www.nwtdt.com/email/easy-read-pm.pdf
The Press Release can be found at http://www.nwtdt.com/email/press-release-pm.pdf
Please feel free to circulate this information to as many
individuals and organisations as possible. In addition, what
was the North West Regional Programme Board met yesterday (21/6/11)
to develop an action plan together to consider what we have already
done in the North West that we can share nationally and the areas
that we can work on. The notes of this meeting will be shared as
soon as they have been finalised and will be a focus for discussion
at the next Regional Self Advocates Forum, Regional Family Forum
and Regional Lead Officers Forum. I will make every effort
to ensure that you are kept informed of the response we receive and
of any way you, individually and collectively, can continue to work
with us to do all we can to make sure that this time the lessons
are learned and short and long term action is taken to support
people live their lives as full and equal citizens and not in fear
of this kind of abuse for themselves, their friends or their
family.
For more information please feel free to contact me at
lynn.james-jenkinson@nwtdt.com Thank You
Lynn
LYNN JAMES-JENKINSON
Director / CEX
NWTDT / Pathways Associates CIC
Email: lynn.james-jenkinson@nwtdt.com OR lynn.james.jenkinson@pathwaysassociates.co.uk
Comments
Post A Comment
