People First hosted our first Lancashire Way Forward Conference on Tuesday November 14th..
Taking place in the historic County Hall in Preston, the event was a beacon of empowerment for those with lived experiences in Lancashire; a way for their voices to be heard and listened to. The conference kicked off with our Chief Executive Officer, David Blacklock, emphasising the need to break barriers for people with Learning disabilities and/or Autism across the county.
Harry, our Director of Inclusion at People First, welcomed the attendees and outlined four main way points that people should be entitled to which would be explored throughout the day. These included:
- Being with loved ones or things we love.
- Being able to look out for ourselves and others in our community.
- A place we call home.
- Doing things that matter to us.
The learning strategy aims to achieve these priorities with experts driving it forward, shaping services to enhance the lives of individuals with learning disabilities and/or autism.
Gary Bourlet, Co-founder of Learning Disability England, shared his wealth of experience at the conference, providing an overview of the mission and purpose of the ‘Good Life Movement’. Gary’s testimony paved the way for the conference attendees to explore the importance of meaningful relationships and the pursuit of positive change.
Being with loved ones or things we love
The session on meaningful relationships delved into the importance of understanding and supporting diverse needs. Attendees with lived experiences emphasised the importance of equal rights, raising awareness, and urging the Lancashire County Council to take immediate action to address these pressing issues.
Being able to look out for ourselves and others in our community
James, Mark, Mark H, Richard, and Louise spoke about making a difference in the lives of people with a learning disability and/or Autism which highlighted the need for inclusivity, equal opportunities, and the active engagement of people with learning disabilities in decision-making processes. Suggested actions included:
- Independent support; to make sure the voice of the person is listened to not just by their carer or support worker.
- Improved communication; to make sure we are engaging with people outside of self-advocacy groups.
- Challenging societal perceptions; by increasing the training and information available.
Dene, Mark, and Linda discussed how services across Lancashire and South Cumbria can be enhanced. They were addressing challenges like repeated information sharing, improved communication, accessibility, and support for mainstream services were highlighted as crucial.
Transition to adulthood
Ollie Moors from Pukar spoke about making sure children with learning disabilities and/or Autism are supported to effectively transition to adulthood. Ollie said there is a lot to learn from other areas, and that there are many changes we need to make including:
- Longer appointments.
- Giving more opportunities in the community.
- Involving young people earlier in decisions.
- Self-advocates delivering talks.
Reasonable Adjustments
Harry and Chris discussed the importance of making sure organisations put people with learning disabilities and/or Autism first, making sure they are listened to and respected. Chris spoke about the need for professionals to get more training from self-advocates and people with learning disabilities and/or Autism for various roles like housing officers or support workers.
What happens next?
As the conference concluded speakers and attendees acknowledged that there is much work to be done across the county but felt that the conference signified a step closer to creating change.
People First will be producing a report that reflects on the themes that were discussed and the actions that were suggested. This report will be published in the new year.
If you would like to receive a copy once it is published, you can email us at [email protected] or you will be able to view it on our website.