People with learning disabilities – COVID-19 Support and Action Group
Wednesday 01 June 2022
Time: 12:30pm-2:30pm https://us06web.zoom.us/j/97471173675 Meeting ID: 974 7117 3675
1. Present
Andrew Geraldine Russell Lorena
Apologies:
Firielle
Sam Charles Ray Kieran Chris Kweku
Jenny
Simone
Olcay
Phil Sarah
Peter
Gary Vicky
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Jenny and Andrew welcomed everyone. Everyone introduced themselves. |
Andrew and Jenny welcome everyone to the group
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Jenny: We are going to spend 15 minutes talking about Learning Disability Week and Sarah will remind everyone about their statements
Learning Disability Week
20 – 26 June 2022.
We talked about the theme,
which is Connecting
Communities.
We agreed we would share information about who we are beyond our learning disability labels, what we do, what we’ve achieved, what makes us angry, what we achieved.
Sarah then read out the statements (see minutes 25th May)
We agreed on a hashtag # to use when
we send out our statements on social
media.
Hashtag is #SeeTheRealUs
Kieran, I tested the suggested hashtags for what they’re being used for. A lot were in use by other people for non-disability related stuff. It can take a few weeks for a new hashtag to take hold; the alternative is to jump onto someone else’s hashtag with the message we are trying to get out.
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Other members of the group who hadn’t been at the previous meeting shared their statement.
Sam: I am a very sociable person. I work for a charity who speak up for people with ld., I also am trustee on another charity, but I have been with for over twenty five years, and I also am sociable things with other outside
Kweku: I am strong advocate, I work for people first I also go to other places as well for people with disabilities and I work on the fairground it’s good to be show people you are capable of doing things and also I attend united friends and we go to different places and we go on holiday sometimes abroad and sometimes England and we decide where we go
Charles: Yes, we may add more to it when given through but so far I am so much more than my autism I have the same rights to have the full life as the next person.
Sarah asked people to send photos of themselves, by WhatsApp or email, that can be used with the Tweets.
Andrew: Alexis Quinn coming on the 15th of June to talk about her experiences and questioning of being in an Assessment and Treatment Unit.
There were some questions suggested at a previous meeting.
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We agreed:
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Ask her to talk about her experience and how she got out of the ATU.
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Follow up with any questions based on what she spoke about.
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What are her views about the changes to the Mental Health Act and the Human Rights Act?
BREAK
Heidi Court Case
This is taking place Wednesday 13th July.
It was suggested that if people wanted to attend in person we could arrange a meeting of the Covid-19 group in London on the same day.
We also discussed revising the original statement to include some of the wider issues that we’ve heard about and we’re concerned about.
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Women’s right to make decisions about our own bodies.
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Far right and abortion groups ‘piggy backing’ the campaign.
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The lack of inclusion of people with learning difficulties.
Action: Jenny to contact Manchester Coalition of Disabled People to talk about their position.
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Simone: The court case is not focusing on the foetus now. It’s centring on the stereotyping of disabled people and the impact on people.
https://peoplefirstltd.com/downright-discrimination/
We support equality in the womb!
People First (Self Advocacy) and the Covid-19 Support and Action Group offers its support to the case going through the High Court on Wednesday 6th July.
#DownrightDiscrimination is about the screening of disabilities on grounds of equality and human rights. This is being led by Heidi Crowter and others.
Some of us have been fighting for our freedom. This court case is about fighting for our right to exist. Every person should have the same opportunities; there should not be any inequality of opportunity.
The UK Government signed up to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities 12 years ago. One of the guiding principles is ‘Respect for difference and acceptance of persons with disabilities as part of human diversity and humanity’. Article 10 (Right to Life) is about every human being having the inherent right to life on an equal basis with others.
We want to have the same opportunities to life and living as everyone else.
People First (Self Advocacy)
The original statement
Kieran: My understanding this was never about abortion legislation.
Olcay: We also need to think about the women who cannot have children; it’s heart breaking. Women with
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learning difficulties are told not to get pregnant, and if they do worry that their take child will be taken away.
Jenny: The Heidi court case is bigger than what we think it is and does link to what Olcay saying. A more fundamental issue is if people with learning disabilities are having their children taken off them. Isn’t this an issue to focus attention on rather than the abortion law?
Ray: I agree what Olcay said about women’s rights, at end of the day. It’s a human right.
Philipa: I know that up to now the mainstream women’s movement have not been inclusive of people with learning disabilities around these wider issues. There are some organisations that realise this and want to be more inclusive for people with learning disabilities. I have meeting to talk about these wider issues and there may be some funding for a group to meet and have space to discuss these issues. British Pregnancy Advisory Service and ARK UK – women’s one antenatal results and choice
Simone: They are organisations that campaign for people. I thought would be more women’s rights more generally.
Olcay and Jenny said they were interested.
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Next meeting:
Wednesday 15th June 2022 12:30pm - 2:30pm
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/97471173675
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