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People with learning disabilities – COVID-19 Support and Action Group

Wednesday 20 July 2022

Time: 12:30pm-2:30pm https://us06web.zoom.us/j/97471173675 Meeting ID: 974 7117 3675

1. Present

Andrew Charles Vicky

Olcay Geraldine Kweku

Russell Sam Sarah

Lorena Simone

Ray Kieran

Philipa

2. Apologies:

Jenny Joanne Gary Firielle

Andrew and Russell welcomed everyone.

Olcay thanked everyone for the Get Well cards the group sent.

Everyone spoke about how they were coping in the heat.

Some people have found it difficult to sleep.

1

Feedback from Kieran and Vicky about the Heidi court case.

It’s unlikely there will be a decision until the end of summer.

There was no conclusion at the end of the day and there isn’t a date for the day of judgement.

An updated statement from the People First was published. https://peoplefirstltd.com/downright- discrimination/

3. Discussion: Preparation for visitor from National Lottery (Leaders with Lived Experience Programme)

Harriet is joining the group next week. She is a consultant working with the National Lottery. She would like to meet with people who have benefited from the Leaders with Lived Experience grant we received to run this group.

They would like to find out

more about you as leaders.

2

We thought it would be helpful to think about what has been good and what has been difficult.

  •   We were able to learn new ways of communicating online and become more confident using Zoom.

  •   We were able to meet other self advocates around the country who we wouldn’t have otherwise met.

  •   It’s been a good atmosphere and very supportive – the peer support has been really important during Covid-19.

  •   We have been able to practice and learn facilitation skills.

  •   The co-facilitation has worked well and we have had useful Planning Meetings.

  •   We’ve had lots of different discussions and debates.

  •   We have written statements about some of the issues we feel really strongly about, like closing ATUs.

  •   We have had guests come and speak about issues, like the Heidi court case and the Abortion Law.

3

We ran the Oi, Out in Front event online.

  •   It was difficult for everyone to get online at first.

  •   Meeting online and from home is sometimes frustrating – it would be good to meet in person at times.

  •   Sometimes we feel we don’t have enough time to discuss things properly – everyone should have their say.

4

  •   The stronger self advocates can sometimes dominate the discussions.

  •   It would be good to have more capacity to follow up on our ideas and agreements and take more action.

  •   Having an annual ‘meet-up’ would be good.

4. Future meetings

Name of the group: Although Covid-19 is still with us, we’ve been talking about a lot of other things. Because of this we’ve thought about changing the name of the group. There were 2 suggestions:

1. The Sell Advocates’ Support and Action Group 2. The Self Advocates’ Support Network

Meetings from September onwards: We thought about meeting less often (monthly or twice a month) and also having an annual ‘in person’ meeting in May.

We had a vote and everyone voted for twice a month.

Members of Together All Are Able asked if we could avoid the first Wednesday of the month.

We agreed to keep meetings on a Wednesday.

5

Guests:

27.07.22: The National Lottery consultant from EPIC,

Harriet, will be coming to talk to talk to us about how the

Leaders with Lived Experience grant has helped us

continue to meet and discuss issues that are important

to us. She will attend 12:30pm – 1:30pm.

We will also invite Neil Crowther, James Sanderson, Ian

McCrieth and Alexis Quinn back to the group.

Information share

Together All Are Able have had training to become

trainers for eye care from SightAbility.

Kieran said he has had a conversation with Simone

about getting the Disabled Peoples’ Direct Action Group

up and running again.

The sixth annual Learning from lives and deaths –

People with a learning disability and autistic people (LeDeR) report has been published by King’s College London 14th July, with an easy read version.

NHS England has also published the fourth annual LeDeR Action from Learning report and easy read version, which describes some of the work being undertaken across the country by the NHS to reduce health inequalities and premature mortality amongst people with a learning disability. There is also

a supporting resources document.

6

Next meeting:

Wednesday 27th July 2022 12:30pm - 2:30pm

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/97471173675

Please note that we will be breaking for summer after our meeting on 27th July until 13th September.

We will meet twice a month, on the second and fourth Wednesday of the month. Below are the dates.

2022 dates

Wednesday Wednesday

Wednesday Wednesday

Wednesday Wednesday

Wednesday

13th September 2022 27th September 2022

12th October 2022 26th October 2022

9th November 2022 23rd November 2022

14th December 2022

We will then review if we want to continue ? meeting twice a month or reduce to
meeting monthly.

7


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