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Patrick Cording, John Sharp, Andrew Malley and Sarah Charles at the Elfrida Society in Highbury. Front, Alice Etherington, Linda Doherty, Jackie Ryan and Edmond Mariott |
It’s one El of a boost for those with special needs
A group for people with learning difficulties is set to examine how much their council helps them, writes Peter Gruner
ONCE upon a time people with learning difficulties would have been locked up in institutions and ostracised by society.
Today people with these problems still get bullied, but, thanks to organisations such as the Highbury-based Elfrida Society, there are moves to make them feel more integrated with the rest of society.
Now six people with learning difficulties are being recruited by the society to investigate services available from Islington council for people with these special needs.
There are nearly two million people with learning difficulties – an inability to process information – in the UK, which involve a multitude of special needs including autism and Down syndrome. At the same time they can also be people with specific gifts.
Elfrida manager Louis Wallis said the scheme to assess services has been inspired by a Government initiative under the new Disability Equality Act of 2006.
He said: “Who better to assess the services that are available than the people who use them? They will produce a report which will help the council to decide which services could be improved.”
The team will be visiting about 30 centres in the borough with a questionnaire and will interview other people with learning difficulties to assess their needs.
Ms Wallis added that although life is improving, there are still difficulties and bullying. “The worst offenders are teenagers who are already causing problems in their community. People with learning difficulties can attract bullies and are often more likely to be victims of exploitation.”
For more information about the assessment scheme or the society write to: 34 Islington Park Street, N1 1PX. Phone: 020 7359 7443. |
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