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in conversation

lost, didn’t they? Everyone has gone that decision-making. She is on the national
actually was being a pain in the arse. We ‘We have got somebody with co-production advisory group of Think
outlasted them all. Yay!” autism in the room, tick.’ Yes, Local Act Personal.
She laughs then is suddenly fierce: “You She is also an adviser with You Know,
know what? You want to have a battle you have – but are you which offers independent knowledge and
with us? You’re gonna lose!” listening to them? Are you help about accessing care services.
Obviously, it was a tough time but Jayne Knight, who founded You Know,
Carter says she was prepared because she talking to them? says: “Jenny Carter is an inspirational,
could see it coming. hard-working woman who has true insight
She says she is often able to see the and dedicates her life to others. She’s
direction in which things are going self-advocacy. She often works a full, great fun too.”
because her autism helps her to read the five-day week, frequently online.
signs at an early stage. “I think the most meetings that we did Award opens doors
This was evident when she and Forfar on Teams or Zoom in one day was about In 2016, Carter was made a lifelong
lost their work at the local disability six,” she laughs. “On average, it’s about member of Learning Disability England.
group: “I could actually see it was going to four or five meetings a day.” Then, in 2018, she won the Derek Russell
be really hard. They don’t want us any I ask Carter to give me an example of award for outstanding leadership in
more. And it all came to reality. I was like: the kind of thing that Together All Are advocacy in the North West.
‘Wow. I actually saw that and it actually Able might help someone with, and I must She tells me now that receiving the
happened.’ admit I am surprised by her answer. award “felt like a turning point” and,
“I could say my autism is a gift because “Well, one thing would be friendship. since then, Together All Are Able has
I see stuff before it happens a lot of Sometimes we actually stop the person had better access to people who make
the time.” being bored.” decisions “like the director for adult
How? “We have open events that social services”.
Working the week anyone can be involved with and then we Carter is also a member of the local
As well as being a director of Together All actually say: ‘This is going on and if you Transforming Care group, which is trying
Are Able, Carter is one of the local leads fancy joining us then join in’. to get people out of assessment and
for self-advocacy. “It’ll be things like the council having a treatment units. She says that, while the
“It’s unpaid, by the way,” says Carter. consultation meeting about its budget. group is doing satisfactorily in terms of
She is happy to work voluntarily because There are some meetings that are just for getting people moved out, what is really
she believes in the importance of certain people, but there are other concerning is that young people are still
meetings that we going in to these institutions.
can turn up at
mob-handed,” she Inspirations
laughs. I ask Carter who inspired her in this work
Together All Are when she was younger and the first
Creating Able often works person she mentions is personalisation

opportunities with the local consultant Helen Sanderson MBE.
council but Carter
“Helen was one of the people I looked
for happiness stresses that most up to. I just liked the way she was.”
In return, Sanderson recognises Carter
of their income
comes from as “a dedicated and committed self-
organisations advocate leader”.
Choice Support is a national, outside the Wirral, Carter was also inspired by John Evans
innovative social care charity often national OBE, a disability activist, who was on the
that supports autistic bodies. National Co-Production Advisory Group
people and people who In addition, with her. Carter had wanted to meet him
have a learning disability Pathways and Think after hearing him tell his story in an online
or a mental health need. Local Act Personal video. “I am friends with him on Facebook
have funded their now,” she says.
Our support is based
on understanding work promoting In closing, I ask her what she would say
people’s hopes and personalisation and if she met her younger self.
dreams, as well community-based She is thoughtful for a few moments
as their needs, support in health before quietly saying: “It’s OK. It’s OK that
so we provide and care. you are autistic. That is OK. It is OK that
opportunities that Carter is strongly you can see things before they happen.
people really want. committed to It’s OK!”
co-production, a It is a remarkable moment of self-belief.
Find out more: process in which Carter sounds exactly as though she is
www.choicesupport.org.uk people who use comforting a young person and, for that
moment, I am given a powerful glimpse
services and carers
Choicesupport Choice_Support are included as not only of what she has been through
equal partners and but also of the compassion and concern
share power and that have sustained her. n

www.cl-initiatives.co.uk Community Living Vol 35 No 3 | Spring 2022 15