Calder Valley MP Craig Whittaker (Con) has thrown his support behind a new campaign, Voices for Our Future, which outlines four key policy areas national learning disability charity Hft is calling for change on in a bid to improve the lives of learning disabled adults.
The campaign was launched this week in Parliament by national learning disability charity Hft, where Mr Whittaker met one of his constituents, Rachael Stead. They discussed the impact that negative attitudes towards people with a learning disability can have on a person.
According to research, 72% of disabled people have experienced negative attitudes or behaviour in the past five years. And for those with a learning disability; research also suggests that one fifth of the public feel uncomfortable around someone with a learning disability.
Rachael has experienced just this, having low expectations, impatience and staring from members of the public throughout her life. As a result, she has found it hard to leave her house alone and has often felt lonely or isolated.
Rachael says she is calling for change because “it has happened to me and I don’t want it to happen to anyone else”.
“I would like to see more disability awareness training among the public so people with a learning disability are included in everyday life. More change and understanding would create a happier world.”
Craig Whittaker MP said:
I was delighted to attend the launch of #VoicesForOurFuture with @HftOnline, I had a great discussion with my constituent Rachael about what she believes needs to change for adults with learning disabilities, and how we can campaign for people to live their best lives possible. The event was really insightful, I will be raising these concerns to my colleagues.
A change in attitudes is just one of the four key policy areas Hft has outlined in Voices for Our Future. Following wide-ranging conversations with learning disabled people, Hft has identified negative attitudes, employment, housing and the social care workforce and funding as the most important issues to campaign on over the next five years to improve the lives of learning disabled adults.
Eighteen MPs attended the official launch yesterday, where they had the opportunity to speak to learning disabled people to understand why these issues matter to them and what changes they want to see.
Kirsty Matthews, Chief Executive at Hft, explains:
“We want everyone, including people who make the decisions in Whitehall and Westminster, to listen to people with a learning disability and be part of the change that is so necessary.”
Hft’s campaigning work includes calls for improved long-term funding in the social care system to ensure the sustainability of the sector and additional calls for improved housing standards so that all homes built in the future are accessible to all those with learning disabilities.
“People with a learning disability also expressed their desire to campaign against the negative attitudes and stigma they are far too familiar with. These negative attitudes and stereotypes, alongside an overall lack of understanding, are wrongly still commonplace in society and act as a barrier to full participation in their local communities for many people with a learning disability,” says Ms Matthews.
She continues: “We would like to see the Government take proactive steps to stop disability hate crime once and for all, and educate those from a young age to remove stigma surrounding learning disabled adults.”
To ensure their campaigns are truly informed by the voice and opinion of adults with a learning disability, Hft is encouraging learning disabled adults and those who support them to join the Walk in Our Shoes Network. Through the network, individuals will be given the opportunity to join calls for change.