News Release, 23 March 2001
The Foundation for People with Learning Disabilities, part of the Mental Health Foundation, welcomes the learning disability White Paper, Valuing People as a major opportunity to effect real change for a group of people whose needs have been neglected and overlooked, but is concerned that the available resources will limit action at local level.
"The White Paper should go a long way to ensuring that the rights and choices of people with learning disabilities are, at last, listened to," said Hazel Morgan, head of Foundation for People with Learning Disabilities. "For example, its focus on the need for services to respond to the needs of older people with learning disabilities and those with dementia, and the urgent need to help people living with family carers over 70-years plan for the future is very welcome. Our Growing Older with Learning Disabilities programme has highlighted the numbers of people who are inappropriately placed in generic older people's services rather than services for people with learning disabilities, and the Government's recognition of this is crucial.
"Valuing People also tackles a number of concerns raised in our recent report on making choice a reality for people with profound learning disabilities, Everyday Lives, Everyday Choices, such as direct payments, training and friendships. We still believe, however, that there should be a right to advocacy, and that further resources and attention should be paid to communication with people with severe learning disabilities.
"But with services that have been underfunded for so long, and a huge unmet need for housing and day opportunities, for example, there is a substantial shortfall to overcome."
The new funds announced in the White Paper are less than one per cent of the annual spend on learning disabilities according to calculations from the Foundation for People with Learning Disabilities (see note 1), which in its recent report, Learning Disabilities - the Fundamental Facts, pointed out that:
- Between 50% and 90% of people with learning disabilities experience communications difficulties but there is a great shortage of speech and language therapists with only 0.7 speech therapists per 100,000 population.
- 40% of people with learning disabilities living at home are living with family carers over the age of 60 years.
- 63% of adults with learning disabilities live in private households, most commonly with their natural families, but there is a widely acknowledged shortage of respite care services.
- Only 10% of the working-aged population with learning disabilities are in supported employment.
"We welcome the extra resources, though limited, and the Government's focus on rights, independence, choice and inclusion - but if it is to work, local authorities and organisations must seize this moment to take a radical look at the support and opportunities they provide," said Hazel Morgan, head of the Foundation for People with Learning Disabilities. "This means listening closely to people with learning disabilities and their carers in implementing Valuing People. Only then will the young woman with profound learning disabilities, for example, be supported in making real choices about the way she spends her days."
The learning disability White Paper, 'Valuing People' is available to read online on the Department of Health Learning Disability website at www.dh.gov.uk/PolicyAndGuidance/
HealthAndSocialCareTopics/LearningDisabilities
The Foundation for People with Learning Disabilities runs the Choice Forum , the biggest, liveliest online discussion forum on issues in the lives of people with learning disabilities in the UK.
Return to news releases 2001
Note to editors
For further information and interview requests contact please contact the press office on 020 7803 1105 / 1128 or email the press office
The Foundation promotes the rights, quality of life and opportunities of people with learning disabilities and their families. We do this by working with people with learning disabilities, their families and those who support them to:
- Do research and develop projects that promote social inclusion and citizenship
- Support local communities and services to include people with learning disabilities
- Make practical improvements in services for people with learning disabilities
- Spread knowledge and information.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
