Jon Sparkes OBE, chief executive at learning disability A learning disability is to do with the way someone's brain works. It makes it harder for someone to learn, understand or do things. charity, Mencap said:
“By introducing the Fair Pay Agreement, as part of the Employment Rights Bill,
the Government
The Government are the people who run the country. They decide how much tax people should pay for things and how things like the National Health Service should work.
has taken a crucial first step towards improving the pay and recognition our
social care
Social care means the services that give care and support to people who need it.
workforce deserve.
“Being a
support worker
Support workers are people who are paid to give care and support to people who need it.
is a highly skilled job but due to more than a decade of chronic underfunding,
support workers
Support workers are people who are paid to give care and support to people who need it.
are still underpaid and undervalued. Many tell us they love their job but are forced to walk to work because of the cost of fuel or are skipping meals to save money. This simply isn’t good enough.
“We urge the government to continue making the Fair Pay Agreement a priority, to launch the
consultation
Consultation is finding out what people think about something.
quickly and work at pace to set up the negotiating body.”
-ENDS-
For further information or to arrange an
interview
An interview is a meeting where you talk to someone or a group of people about something. When you have an interview for a job, you have to answer questions and say why you would be good at the job. The person who gives the best answers is offered the job.
with a Mencap
spokesperson
A spokesperson is someone who speaks up about something. They usually speak up on behalf of a group or organisation.
or
case study
A case study is a piece of writing that tells people more information about someone's experience.
, please contact Mencap’s media team on: mailto:[email protected] or 02076965414 (including out of hours).
Notes to editors:
About Mencap:
Mencap exists to ensure the UK is the best place in the world for people with a learning disability to live happy and healthy lives. We support people directly and campaign A campaign is when people work together to try to change something. with people with a learning disability, their families and carers. We work to change laws, increase representation and campaign for better health, social care and employment opportunities for the 1.5 million people with a learning disability in the UK.
What is a learning disability?
A learning disability is a reduced intellectual ability which affects someone for their whole life. Typically, people with a learning disability need more time to learn and process information. They may need extra support to develop skills, complete tasks and interact with others, or they may have more complex needs requiring round-the clock care. The level of support needed is different for everyone and may change during a person’s lifetime.
Learning disability is NOT a mental illness or a learning difficulty. Often, the term ‘learning difficulty’ is wrongly used in place of ‘learning disability’. Having a learning difficulty (such as ADHD or
dyslexia
Dyslexia is a learning difficulty. People who have dyslexia can find it hard to read, write and spell.
) may mean a person learns at a different pace or in a different way BUT – unlike a learning disability - it does not affect a person’s intellect.
With the right support, most people with a learning disability can lead happy, healthy, independent lives. At Mencap, it’s our mission to remove societal barriers and shatter misconceptions to make this more possible for more people.
Mencap’s guide to reporting on Learning Disability
When it comes to creating content with people with a learning disability, we know many people feel nervous about saying and doing the wrong thing. Our guide for journalists, covers everything from up to date facts and figures to the right language to use. It also includes tips on how to work with people with a learning disability to gather the best content.