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letters
Letters

Write to Community Living at simonj@jarr.demon.co.uk. Note: all letters may be edited
Meader’s view

Religious faith can frame experiences and Evans used their privileged social Down’s syndrome don’t like it, I would of
– it is not an escape from reality position to throw a positive light on the course adopt their preferred term.
Community Living is a great read. I lives of people with a learning disability Cathy Wintersgill
particularly enjoy reading Moments in – and that is certainly something that Director, Connect in the North, Leeds
History, as it provides a historic everyone, whatever their background and
perspective to current issues and allows outlook, can be happy to affirm. Success in a tough job
an appreciation of what has changed Dr Anne-Marie Callus In the digital age, it must be a really tough
for the better, as well as of the problems Senior lecturer, Department of Disability, job to publish a magazine. But the sheer
still being experienced despite the Faculty for Social Wellbeing, University quality of Community Living – printing,
progress achieved. of Malta content, layout, contributors – is as good as
“When a screen star shone a spotlight” or possibly higher than it has ever been. I
(autumn 2019, page 30) helps us Terms reflect individuals and society have been reading it for many years,
appreciate just for how long parents of I am writing to support Paul Williams’ starting in the living room of David Brandon,
people with a learning disability have comments (Whose term is it anyway?, its first editor, with him beside me. It was
been fighting for their children’s rights. autumn, page 6). Connect in the North has great to see him mentioned in the last issue.
There is one aspect to it, however, on long used people with “learning difficulties” Huge respect from me for all your
which I feel I must comment. rather than “learning disabilities”. This was achievements in helping this to happen.
It is true that, as Susanna Shapland says, originally because it was the terminology The magazine has guided, informed and
the parents of Robin Elizabeth Rogers – our members preferred. helped me for close on 30 years now.
1950s US TV stars Roy Rogers and Dale It also fits better with the social model Pete Crane
Evans – were wealthy. It is also fair to of disability. People have difficulty Hesketh Bank, Preston, Lancashire
point out, as the author does, that they learning but they are disabled by a society
therefore had options not available to that does not provide the adjustments,
most disabled people and their families, adaptations or supports that people need. Next issue of
then or now. People with other impairments who use Community Living
On the other hand, the argument that the social model may refer to themselves
their belief that their daughter was a gift as disabled people, but not usually as ● ●Reflections on the sexual abuse
from God “could be too abstract for those people with disabilities in the way that revelations about Jean Vanier,
dealing with day-to-day reality” is very people with learning disabilities is used. founder of L’Arche
much debatable. As Williams says, over recent years, the ● ●Learning disability in Japan:
For those whose lives are steeped in use of people with learning disabilities has a special report
faith (Christian or otherwise), embracing become more widespread and many of ● ●On the front line: supporting people
their experiences in keeping with that our members use it themselves. with learning disabilities in the age
is not an escape from reality but a way We run Stamp Out Bullying training in of coronavirus
of living life – with all its trials and which we explore words that are ● ●
tribulations – differently. acceptable to use and those that might Plus all our regular features: benefits,
Living life with a meaningfulness framed cause offence. Generally, people with law, research, moments in history, arts
through religious beliefs may not be for learning difficulties tell us that they are and culture, opinion by Jan Walmsley
everyone and may call for a different kind happy with both terms. and Suzanne Gale’s diary
of empathy but should not be diminished. I do not know what the argument is
In the end, what matters is – as against using Down’s syndrome. It makes Out July 2020
Shapland rightly points out – that Rogers sense to me to use it but, if people with

6 Vol 33 No 3 | Spring 2020 Community Living www.cl-initiatives.co.uk