Learning Disability England has a new chief executive, Sam Clarke.
In a recent interview with the Guardian newspaper, Clarke has said that it is a ‘disservice’ that society fails to recognise that people with learning disabilities need to make a contribution, and intends to focus on ‘four key areas: funding for housing and support, making self advocacy stronger, improving housing choices and improving social care.
“We all bring gifts and talents, and I think it would be brilliant if we could understand that’s the case for everyone.”
She believes that “until we all matter equally”, abuse will continue, as will institutionalisation and health inequalities. Referring to the recent NHS review that revealed how poor care contributed to some deaths of learning disabled people, Clark says attitudes are partly to blame: “We do need to think about the fact these [people in NHS care] are our friends, our neighbours and our family members.”
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