Learning Disability Week: Paving the way for a more inclusive future

This Learning Disability Week, we are joining Mencap in calling on people to help bust myths about living with a learning disability by sharing their stories.

The national campaign is calling on people to show the public things that people with a learning disability can do, are good at, or are proud of, or to tell people about the issues that affect them.

In Kent and Medway, we want to hear from people with a learning disability who want to share their experiences to help pave the way for a more inclusive future.

Marie Hackshall, the lead for Learning Disability and Neurodiversity across Kent and Medway, said: “As members of the Learning Disability and Neurodiversity Partnership, we are committed to working together in true partnership alongside people with lived experience.

“We want to increase the number of voices of people with a learning disability in the work that we do.

“We want to learn from people's life experiences to help create more opportunities that support people's personal needs and hopes.”

Personal needs and hopes could be about:

• being supported to stay well
• having good physical and mental health
• having a home
• having a job or interest that is meaningful
• living as an equal member of the local community.

Councils and NHS organisations who are members of the Learning Disability and Neurodiversity Partnership include: 

• Kent County Council
• Medway Council 
• NHS Kent and Medway 
• Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust (KCHFT) 
• Kent and Medway NHS and Social Care Partnership Trust (KMPT). 

Zandrea Stewart, Independent Chair for the Learning Disability and Neurodiversity Partnership said: “This is such important work. We are thankful to have members with lived experience already on our partnership board.

“They have brought their expertise and insights to the priorities we need to focus on.

“Later this year I will be sharing the role of chair with colleagues who will bring their lived experience to a co-chair role.  

“This is something that we will want to build on, hearing from and sharing the inspirational stories of people living with a learning disability living in Kent and Medway.” 

If you are interested in being involved working alongside us through co production in the future, please contact makingadifference@kent.gov.uk.