Learning Disability Coalition

Association for Real Change (ARC) - www.arcuk.org.uk
"Many local authorities present the closure of 'old fashioned' day centres as a service improvement in line with Government policy. Sometimes it is, but often there are people who lose out in such changes, especially those with more challenging behaviour, higher support needs and/or communication difficulties."

James Churchill, CEO, Association for Real Change (ARC)

BILD (British Institute of Learning Disabilities) - www.bild.org.uk
"BILD can see that, due to cost savings, the quality of support available to people with learning disabilities is getting worse."

Keith Smith, Chief Executive, British Institute of Learning Disabilities

Downs Syndrome Associationwww.downs-syndrome.org.uk
"The government's Valuing People agenda promised so much - the coalition will make sure that those promises are fulfilled."

Carol Boys, Chief Executive, Down's syndrome Association

Foundation for People with Learning Disabilitieswww.learningdisabilities.org.uk
"We could be facing a generation of people with higher support needs who will rely on tracheotomies, tube feeding and ventilators to survive. Funding for this level of support must be built into the system."

Barbara McIntosh, Co-Director, Foundation for People with Learning Disabilities.

Mencap - www.mencap.org.uk
"The lack of funding for social care means that people's human rights are in jeopardy. The system is moving towards crisis and investment is urgently needed. As a founding member of the Coalition, Mencap believes that people with a learning disability should have the same choices and chances as everyone else. In the current tough financial situation we all need to continue the fight to ensure that there is sufficient funding to make this a reality. "

Mark Goldring Chief Executive, Mencap.

National Autistic Society - www.NAS.org.uk
"People with autism - many of whom also have learning disabilities - are increasingly being denied the services they need, due to a lack of funding. The Government's policies on choice, inclusion and human rights are laudable; but without sufficient investment they will never become a reality."

Mark Lever Chief Executive, National Autistic Society

People First - www.peoplefirstltd.com
"There are too few people actually getting the things that the white paper talked about like person centred plans and free health checks. Human rights abuses are going on every day in our communities suffered by people with learning difficulties and it is time something was done about it."

Andrew Lee, Director, People First & Co-Chair of the Coalition

Real Life Options - http://www.reallifeoptions.org/


"We're not asking for charity; and we're definitely not asking for more policy initiatives - just for a fair crack of the whip. People with disabilities have a right to expect the support they need to live like other people, in the community."

David Wandless, Chief Executive, Real Life Options

Sense - www.sense.org.uk


Richard Brook, Chief Executive, Sense

The National Forum for People with Learning Difficulties - www.nationalforum.co.uk


Richard Blake Co-Chair, The National Forum for People with Learning Difficulties

National Valuing Families Forum & National Family Carer Network http://www.familycarers.org.uk/
"Cuts to services are placing ever greater pressure on family carers; increasingly, we seem to be expected to prop up a failing social care system. The Government must stop looking on family carers as an unpaid workforce and start providing the funding for good quality services and respite care."

Jean Willson, Family Carer

Turning Point - www.turning-point.co.uk
"One of our key concerns is the number of people that are still in institutional settings, for example, those living in large NHS campuses, or the rising numbers of people with learning disabilities being sent out of area to live in independent hospitals. We would call on the government to speed up their proposed review of NHS support for people with a learning disability."

Lord Victor Adebowale, Chief Executive, Turning Point

United Response - www.unitedresponse.org.uk
"We hope that the coalition will provide a unified voice to raise awareness of the needs of people with learning disabilities and the key issues facing them."

Su Sayer, Chief Executive, United Response