Last week Rugby & Bulkington MP Mark Pawsey attended a Royal Mencap Society reception in the House of Commons to support Learning Disability Week.
At the reception Mark spoke to people with a learning disability, carers and family members to talk about their personal experiences, the challenges they face and the changes they want to see in society. There were speeches from people with a learning disability and their families as well as Mencap President Brian Rix.
Mark listened to a speech from 27 year old Vijay, who has a learning disability and played an active role in Mencap’s Hear My Voice campaign. The campaign saw over 800 local candidates in the lead up to the general election pledge their support. 151 of them were elected as MPs – meaning over a fifth of the new Parliament pledged to listen more attentively to people with a learning disability and their families.
There are 1.4 million people with a learning disability in the UK but many feel they are not listened to by those in power and the issues they that are important to them – like hate crime, welfare, better healthcare and education – are often not talked about.
Speaking after the event Mark said:
“People with a learning disability and their families are as much a part of our society as anyone else and deserve to have their voices heard on the issues that matter to them. There are 1.4 million people in the UK with a learning disability and 6 million more family members and carers connected to them.”
Mark concluded:
“Here in Rugby with have some fantastic charities, like New Directions, working with people with learning difficulties and their families. I am also in the process of arranging a match between the Commons & Lords Rugby team and an all ability team which I know will be a great occasion for all involved particularly given the widespread excitement throughout the country as the start of the Rugby World Cup approaches.”
To find out more about Mencap’s Learning Disability Week visit this link.