40 Years of Speaking Up: Memories of the Self Advocacy Movement

This year marks 10 years since Learning Disability England was founded.

To celebrate this milestone, Learning Disability England co-founder and Membership and Engagement Lead Gary Bourlet is looking back at the much longer history of the self-advocacy movement, which made organisations like Learning Disability England possible.

Join Gary in conversation with John Hersov, who has worked in the field of advocacy for people who have learning disabilities for almost 40 years as an independent freelance consultant and facilitator. He has spent much of that time listening to people with learning disabilities, supporting them to share their views, and helping organisations hear what matters most to them.

Gary and John first met in the 1980s through the Mencap London Region Participation Forum (one of the first groups of self advocates in the country).

Since then, both have played important roles in the growth of self-advocacy in the UK.

Together they will reflect on:

• What life was like for people with learning disabilities in the early days of the self-advocacy movement.
• How people felt and what changes they wanted to see.
• The growth of People First groups and self-advocacy across the UK.
• The progress that has been made over the last 40 years.
• What changes they think are still needed for the future.

The session will be a conversation between Gary and John, with a chance for the people attending to share their own memories, experiences and reflections if they would like to.

Whether you have been involved in self-advocacy for many years or want to learn more about its history, please join this friendly oral-history session.