Jackie O’Sullivan, Executive Director of
Strategy
A strategy is a plan to show what an organisation, or a person, wants to do and how they are going to do it.
and Influence 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:
“This strategy clearly sets out the scale of work needed to rescue a workforce scrambling to stay afloat and deliver an important piece of national infrastructure.
“Social care workers are delivering above and beyond, in spite of an underfunded system that’s struggling to recruit, retain and pay their employees a fair
wage
A wage is the money you get for doing a paid job.
.
“Many people with a learning disability wouldn’t be able to live the fulfilling lives they do without social care. It can allow people to get jobs, develop life skills and
independence
Independence means doing things on your own. Making your own choices.
, and for some, provides the support they need to get out of bed in the morning.
“It’s time for
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.
,
local authorities
A local authority is another name for your local council. It is a group of people whose job is to look after the area where you live. Local authorities means more than one local authority.
, unions and providers to pull together and deliver for those who do so much to care and support millions of our loved ones across the country.”
-ENDS-
For further information or to arrange an interview with a Mencap spokesperson, or case study, please contact Mencap’s media team on: [email protected] or 02076 965414 (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 with people with a learning disability, their families and carers. We work to change laws, increase representation and fight 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) 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