Shining a spotlight on success for people with learning disability

To celebrate Learning Disability Week LDN London held an event shining a light on success for people with learning disabilities.

This was our second ‘Spotlight On’ event where we talk about important subjects related to learning disability.

Saba Salman, author of the book Made Possible: Stories of success by people with learning disabilities, chaired the evening.

The event, held at The London Canal Museum, began with the audience watching a short video. It stars three people with learning disabilities who are breaking down barriers: actor Sarah Gordy, campaigner Shaun Webster and Lizzie Emeh. Lizzie Emeh, a brilliant singer and performer, said: “Don’t ever underestimate people with disabilities, don’t ever do that.”

The first speaker in conversation with Saba Salman was Laura Broughton. Laura is an artist who has a learning disability and has shown her work at The Royal Academy, and is also a consultant about social care.

People often do not realise she has a learning disability, Laura says. With her art she tells people about it and helps them understand. Art “unites us”, she says.

There are different kinds of success. Sometimes success is being able to walk down the street, Laura says. As a child, Laura often tripped up and walking can still be difficult.

Laura talked about how most of us need help to achieve success, whether we have a learning disability or not.  “Success is finding something you like to achieve, having the right support and people seeing your potential.”

See Laura’s art on her website here: https://www.laurabroughtonartist.co.uk/

Next the audience watched a video of the dancer Sheri King, who performs with Corali Dance Company. In the video, she looks at a piece of art at Tate Britain and interprets it with dance. Sheri answered questions from the audience. She talked about how she has danced in many countries and in the future would like to be a dance teacher.

Then, we listened to Daniel Greenfield, who works at The Lyceum Theatre. He talked about his job as an usher and his volunteering at St Mary’s Hospital in London, where he serves food and drinks.

Daniel regularly comes to LDN’s Community Hub. It was fantastic to learn about the difference he is making in two London communities.

The evening finished with a discussion about self-advocacy and campaigning with two brilliant self-advocates.

Gary Bourlet is the founder of Learning Disability England. This is a national charity which has the aim of making life better for people with learning disabilities and their families.

Fahmina Hoque gives advice as part of Hampshire Learning Disability Partnership, helping to improve public services for people with learning disabilities in the county.

Saba Salman asked, ‘What is self-advocacy?’

Gary Bourlet says it is “speaking up for yourself, standing up for yourself and making your own decisions.”

Similarly, for Fahmina Hoque it is “Speaking up for yourself and other people with learning disabilities.”

Fahmina says that she has faced challenges because of her learning disability. It can be difficult to fit in in her social life.

People often don’t realise she has a learning disability. “My learning disability is invisible. Sometimes people won’t understand. I process things later. That doesn’t mean I don’t have abilities.”

Fahmina has been doing fantastic campaigning work, speaking up for people with learning disabilities in Hampshire. She described success as achieving her goals: “I’m a puzzle and I’m putting all the pieces together to see where they fit in. I am proud when I complete the puzzle.”

Gary Bourlet has been campaigning for people with learning disabilities for over 30 years. He said that it is still a challenge “convincing the public that people with learning disabilities have a role.”

He wants to continue fighting for this change. He would like to see more young self-advocates, especially people from ethnic minority backgrounds, campaigning, he said.

“I’m hoping the next generation will continue the fight and make life better for people with learning disabilities.”

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