Plans made to help those with learning disabilities

Ewood Park hosted an event this week which focussed on helping people with learning disabilities in Blackburn with Darwen.

The Learning Disability Partnership Board meeting on Monday, June 1 gathered together those people with learning disabilities, their carers, parents and partners from across Blackburn with Darwen Council, third sector and health and local providers to discuss what more can be done locally.

The local Learning Disability Partnership Board is committed to improving the life chances of people with learning disabilities. It has produced an action plan with four key areas to focus on including employment, inclusion, personalisation and health.

The event was the chance to review that plan, get feedback from those in attendance and begin to identify key actions that will help improve the lives of people with learning disabilities over the next year.

The event was also supported by the Council’s Connect project which works to promote sustainable transport in the borough.

Connect has been one of the leads in the inclusion group which works to make sure that those with learning disabilities can attend all available activities in the borough and know how to get there.

Lori Jones was in attendance at the event with her 21 year old daughter Rose who has learning disabilities. She said:

Today has been absolutely fabulous and it has been really interesting networking with people I wouldn’t normally meet. It’s been great to see how people with learning disabilities have had more to do with the actual running and presenting of the event. Also it’s a really nice and relaxing atmosphere and there has been time for people to talk to one another.

Angie Allen, a local disability champion, said:

I think the partnership board has made a difference because you feel more confident. When I first came here I wouldn’t say a word but now I can speak. I feel great because it’s all about us, everyone is here with learning disabilities and you listen to us.

Councillor Mustafa Desai, Executive Member for Health and Adult Social Care, said:

We remain committed to improving the lives of people with learning disabilities in Blackburn with Darwen. This meeting was an important part of that process by actively involving those people with learning disabilities and working with them and their families to provide new opportunities to lead full and active lives. It was fantastic to get their feedback which will really enable us to prioritise what needs to be done over the next year.