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Over the next couple of months we will be running our new workshop on the General Election.   More people with learning disabilities took part in voting in the Referendum than ever before.  We want to encourage many of them to take part in the elections to the UK parliament in the elections scheduled for Thursday May 7th.  

The workshop will look at what the parties stand for and help people think about the policies and the big questions raised by the Big Parties.  

Is it true that only Ed Miliband can replace David Cameron as Prime Minister as Labour says. 

Or are the SNP right when they say that only then can stand up for Scotland. 

Or what about when the conservatives say that only David Cameron can stop Ed Miliband getting into number 10 Downing Street.  

If you work for one of our member organisations in Scotland, please get in touch with This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to book a workshop.  

Other services are currently under threat.  This year in Falkirk two employment services for disabled people are facing financial challenges.  

ASSET is a council run non profit making business to get people with learning disabilities into work.  In a sheltered workshop setting they make  a lot of  different things, from fences, benches, bird houses, planters, balloons, wedding favours, invitations and much more.  A redesign of employment services to people with a disability is being proposed with potential closure mooted.  

Also in the same area is the Caledonia Clubhouse is an employment service for people with mental health problems and people with learning disabilities which helps people take up a range of options from volunteering to employment.  It tries not to pressure vulnerable adults too quickly.   Falkirk Council is reviewing its mental health services and hopes to achieve efficiency savings  of about 20% as  a result.  

For us at the Learning Disability Alliance the debate should not be an either/or decision between supported and open employment. It is right that adults with learning disabilities or disabilities should have every opportunity to work in a mainstream setting.

 Lobby of Glasgow Council Budget Cuts Meeting

Thursday, February 19 at 12:30pm

City Chambers, George Square. The people of Glasgow should not have to pay for the mistakes of millionaire bankers.

• Defend services and jobs

• No to cuts in public spending

• Oppose the privatisation of public services

• Tax the banks and financial institutions that caused the crisis. End tax avoidance by the super-rich and make them pay their fair share

• For a united campaign of public services workers, community/ voluntary organisations and service user groups to defend Glasgow’s services

On Thursday 22nd of January, the Executive Committee of Glasgow Council decided to close another two day centres, Southbrae and the Wedge. The council say that only 21 people still use Southbrae and 15 the Wedge and most of them are not full time. This comes less than 12 months after the last round of closures took place and the council says that many people who are getting budgets are choosing to spend them eleswehere and now they have no choice but to close the centres.

Do you still use one of these two centres, Southbrae or the Wedge? If so what do you think? Do you want to move to another centre or move elsewhere altogether? Or do you want to stay?

If you have stopped using one of these centres or any other one including those that closed could you tell me what you are doing instead? Did you choose that because that was what you wanted or was it what you could afford with your new budget?

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  All replies will be treated confidentially.

National Guidance exists for the use of restraint on “looked after” children in Scotland but nothing similar covers children with special needs in schools.  This is a major oversight and means schools have no national standards on the appropriateness of restraint techniques, the use of de-escalation and the necessary levels of training. 

This means that is some circumstances, bad practice has arisen and parents have little recourse to challenge teaching and other support staff.  For more information see our stories on the events at Kingspark School in Dundee.  

Even more surprising is that there is no external supervision of the care regime in schools.  HMIE does not cover this in their inspections.    It is left up the same local authorities who employ staff and run the schools to monitor them.  This is a real concern and we are supporting a national petition to start  a national dialogue to improve this picture.

Sign the petition by clicking here

 

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