People with disabilities tell South Lanarkshire how to get it right

Jan 28 2010 by Lynda Nicol, Hamilton Advertiser

A GROUP of people with learning difficulties have produced a booklet which explains what kind of services and support they would like to have provided for them.

The booklet was produced by Lanarkshire ACE, a group with learning disabilities who help people stand up for their rights. They were helped by Learning Disability Alliance Scotland.

Over 800 people in South Lanarkshire use day centres for people with disabilities, of which there are seven throughout the area.

Currently, South Lanarkshire Council are reviewing how they provide these services. As a result, members of Lanarkshire ACE took time out to examine what makes a good day in their lives.

The group took pictures of people’s activities during the day and interviewed people about what they did and did not like.

The result is an easy-to-read booklet on what is best for people with disabilities.

A spokesman for the group said the booklet was positive about what disabled people can do for themselves before looking at the services provided for them.

The pamphlet has been distributed widely in South Lanarkshire but will also help people all over Scotland think about how day services can be improved.

Already, St Andrew’s University have taken copies to use for their research.

Ross Thomson, of Larkhall, said: “I really enjoyed compiling the pamphlet. When I went to a day centre, I had to sit around a piano. Now I am fully involved in planning my own services.”

Clare Togneri, of East Kilbride, said: “People with disabilities don’t have to be stuck in day centres all day. They can get out about and make the most of the community with the right support.”

Michael Docherty of East Kilbride said: “Lots of day centres have had lots of money spent on them but all over they look the same.

“We wrote the pamphlet to show a better way of providing support.”

Ian Hood, for the Learning Disability Alliance Scotland, said: “This is a very important piece of work for people with learning disabilities.

It is a way of getting difficult information across in an easy- to-read way. Lots of councils will find this really helpful.”

Copies of the pamphlet are available from Learning Disability Alliance Scotland, 12 Hardengreen Business Centre, Eskbank, Dalkeith, EH22 3NX, tel. 079 201 418 23, or from their website at www.ldascotland.org