People First

People with learning disabilities – COVID-19 Support and Action Group Wednesday 3rd November 2021 Time: 12:30pm-2:30pm https://us06web.zoom.us/j/97471173675 Meeting ID: 974 7117 3675 1. Present Andrew Olcay Kweku Apologies: Geraldine Peter Ray Christopher Jenny Kieran Philipa Charles Simone Firielle Sarah 2. Introductions Andrew welcomed everyone to the meeting and asked everyone how they were feeling. Andrew spoke about the People First newsletter and the sessions with self advocates in Nepal. 1 Jenny spoke about the new work Together All Are Able are starting with Wirral Evolutions and the Speak Up Be Heard meeting. Ray talked about his health issues and the group asked about what support he was getting or could get. Chris talked about some of the campaigns and debates he’s involved in, including Heidi’s court case. He is also being interviewed by Channel 4 and they will use his artwork. Firielle said she has just got out of hospital after dental surgery and has had her booster jab, so she’s now fully vaccinated. Olcay said she was doing fine and had some good news: she’s going to be an aunty. Sadly she didn’t get the position she applied for the Hertfordshire Learning Disability Board. Kweku spoke about the Waltham Forest People First meeting at 4pm. Also, the hosting of Waltham Forest People First will transfer to VoiceAbility, so they will no longer be hosted by Citizen’s Advice. Simone spoke about how she was feeling miserable about remote working. She feels it’s changed a lot of us and how we’re communicating. It’s changing how she feels and thinks about work. She said Heidi’s court case cheered her up and Channel 4 speaking directly to people with learning difficulties – this is because we were there. 2 Kieran joined as said he was doing well and just come from a meeting. In relation to today’s topic, Kieran explained the TAA pay people for the work they do on their behalf and TAA has a percentage for admin. Andrew reminded people what we had discussed last week. 3. Discussion: Employment of people with learning difficulties, disabilities, and autism How we take forward some of the ‘ten things we can do’? Simone: Should it be done by us or someone else – it sounds like a lot of work? Need to engage with the UNCRPD monitoring committee and the Government’s implementation of the UNCRPD. There are some big things coming up. How will the analysis of this work be done? Andrew said this is where we can find a researcher to work with us. Kweku: Asked about the timeline – when does it need to be done by? Kieran: Pointed out that analysis is a lot of work so we need to think about the ‘what ifs’ especially if we didn’t get any support or funding. 3 Ideas for distribution:  ROFA  Inclusion London  Inclusion North  Disability Rights UK  ALLFIE  NSUN  Learning Disability England  Together All Are Able – through Pathways  VoiceAbility Ideas for speaking to contacts:  Chris to talk to Traverse  Kweku to talk to VoiceAbility How many people with learning difficulties, disabilities, and autism are employed by self-advocacy organisations and Deaf & Disabled People Organisations? Suggested questions for a survey: 1. How many staff do you employ? (That pay Tax and NI) 2. How many of those staff do you employ that have a registered disability 3. Access to Work 4 4. How many of those staff identify as having a learning difficulty, learning disability or autism? a. What types of jobs do they hold? b. What type of contract are the employed on? (part-time, full-time, zero hours, temporary, permanent etc.) c. How pay 5. Do you know about Access to Work? 6. Progression routes and personal development 3. Sharing news Discussion about COP26 and the news about it being inaccessible for a minister with a disability. Simone shared information about Friends of the Earth and the work they’re doing with ALLFIE. Other organisations to think about:  Extinction rebellion  Friends of the Earth  Green Peace 5 4. Reminder of topics for future meetings Some of the things that people said were:  Poverty  Safeguarding  Accessible information standards  Employment  Booster vaccinations  Human rights  Setting up groups  Personal development and training Next meeting: Wednesday 10th November 12:30pm – 2:30pm https://us06web.zoom.us/j/97471173675 Chris’s Art Work 6