Mencap launches consultation on social care

Tuesday 25 August 2009

Mencap has launched a consultation on social care to ensure people with a learning disability and their families and carers have their say on social care reform in England.

The learning disability charity's consultation, which includes a series of online polls, is a response to the adult social care green paper, ‘Shaping the Future of Care Together' which was launched in July.

The consultation, which closes on 25 September, forms part of the charity's ‘Don't cut us out' campaign which aims to give the learning disability community a voice in the social care debate.

The Department of Health will be consulting on the plans outlined in the green paper until 13 November, and Mencap wants to talk to people across the learning disability community and tell the government that urgent action is needed.

Esther Foreman, Mencap's campaigns manager, said: "The social care green paper was meant to radically reform adult social care in England. We warmly welcome its vision, but we are very disappointed that it does not focus on people of working age who need care and support, including people with a learning disability.

"We need to make the case for real change. To respond to the consultation we need to gather as much evidence as possible about the affects of the social care system on people with a learning disability and the people around them. If you have a story to tell, or know someone who does, we want to hear from you."

Whether you are a person with a learning disability, a carer, a professional or a member of the public, you can take part in Mencap's online poll. The poll will only take five minutes and will allow you to have a direct say on the government's plans for adult social care in the future.

For more information go to www.mencap.org.uk/dontcutusout

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Contact: Lucy Hannagan, lucy.hannagan@mencap.org.uk / 020 7696 6017

Notes to editors

• Mencap works with people with a learning disability and their families and carers.
• 1.5 million people in the UK have a learning disability.
• A learning disability is caused by the way the brain develops before, during or shortly after birth. It is always lifelong.
• Learning disability affects someone's intellectual and social development all their life. People with a learning disability find it harder than others to learn, understand and communicate.
• People with a learning disability don't get an equal chance in life. Mencap fights to change laws and services and to provide better access to education, employment and leisure facilities, supporting thousands of people with a learning disability to live their lives the way they want.
• It is not a mental illness and should not be confused with mental health issues. It is not dyslexia or Asperger's syndrome.
• It used to be called mental handicap but we don't use this term anymore because most people with a learning disability find it offensive.
• For information about learning disability issues please call the Learning Disability Helpline (England) on 0808 808 1111 or visit www.mencap.org.uk
• For online press information, go to www.mencap.org.uk/press