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Open up more Paralympic sports Meader’s view
We’re loving the #Paralympics, but did
you know that out of the 22 sports this
year, athletes with a #LearningDisability in
Tokyo can only compete in three?
Well done to Mencap for calling on the
International Paralympics Committee to
increase opportunities for learning
disabled athletes.
Venture Arts, via Facebook
What next for social care?
In light of the government announcement
on the future of social care, Learning
Disability England members and partners
and the wider learning disability
community have a number of concerns:
We are left with a lot of questions and
worries because the focus mostly seems to
be on residential care costs, especially in unqualified staff. The government must evidence and policy. What I’ve learned has
older life, rather than support to live a good act to protect people from harm like this. floored me. How can this be happening?
life in your community. There is no focus Mencap Emma Congreve
on working-age adults with disabilities, @mencap_charity, via Twitter @emma_econ, via Twitter
including those with learning disabilities.
We have questions about social care … so don’t fund these dangerous places All staff carry responsibility…
means-test charging for community A report into the deaths of Joanna Bailey, Remember – the care and treatment of
support, rates of pay for support workers Nicholas Briant and Ben King by Norfolk people with a learning disability is the
and the organisations they work for and Safeguarding Adults Board concluded responsibility of all professionals, no
much more about the detail of how social such hospitals should “cease to receive matter your role, band or grade.
care will change based on what people public money”. Ben Taylor
who draw on social care say matters. We Making Chromosomes Count – @Ben_LD_Nurse, via Twitter
could not see any clear points on those. The DS Community News, via Facebook
We know support for family carers, … and should assume capacity
good housing and making social care a People died, along with their dreams Always assume your patient with a
great place to work all matter to all our The official report [into Cawston Park] said learning disability or autism HAS capacity
members. We look forward to helping the deceased “all had aspirations”. to make choices and decisions about their
members shape those with government. Horrific, inhumane, profit-driven, care and treatment. If you feel they don’t,
We will keep working towards rights, government-funded disregard. Ten years a Mental Capacity Assessment must be
inclusion and equality and a system that since Winterbourne View and broken undertaken. Involve the person, and
supports that. promises. Fifty years since the first family or carers should be present.
Jordan Smith, Wendy Burt and Scott national learning disability policy Ben Taylor
Watkin BEM, representative body recommended shutting institutions. @Ben_LD_Nurse, via Twitter
co-chairs, Learning Disability England Saba Salman
@Saba_Salman, via Twitter Good community support
Damning review follows deaths in care… We welcome the Care Quality Commission
Today’s review into the deaths of people When will this stop? Home for Good report, which celebrates
with a #LearningDisability at And people wonder why parent carers successful community support for people
#CawstonPark found the hospital used: and families of those with learning with a learning disability, a mental health
overmedication; excessive restraint; and disability have sleepless nights worrying need and autism, helping avoid
about care provision. These adults have unnecessary hospital stays.
Books and tweets been killed through neglect and wilful lack Restraint Reduction
of care. When is this going to stop?
@theRRNetwork, via Twitter
Francesca L
Find some recommended reading on @PPI-poppet, via Twitter Rights to human rights
our website at www.cl-initiatives.co. Having a learning disability does not mean
uk/book-reviews Policy has failed everywhere someone is less entitled to human rights,
Following Community Living on This is the outcome of policy failure at common decency and kindness, or to
Twitter? We have a new handle – it’s many levels of government and health have dreams, goals and ambitions.
now @CommLivingMag_ services over many decades. I’m relatively Helen Ashby
new to analysing learning disability @HelenAshby72, via Twitter

6 Vol 35 No 1 | Autumn 2021 Community Living www.cl-initiatives.co.uk