Movement salutes leading campaigner

The learning difficulties movement has been rocked by the death of
Ken Simons, one of its leading figures, at the age of 49.

Tributes have been pouring in highlighting his huge contribution to
the movement, promoting self-determination for people with learning
difficulties.

Simons, a regular contributor to Community Care, played a
pivotal role in drawing up the Valuing People white paper and
strategy.

He joined the Norah Fry Research Centre in Bristol in 1989 and
became a senior research fellow. Its director Linda Ward, described
his death as a major loss. “He was committed to involving people
with learning difficulties in research and had been doing it long
before it was trendy.

“Ken was a big person with a big personality. He changed the face
of services for so many people and we are all shell-shocked that
he’s gone.”

– See website www.valuingpeople.org.uk/kensimons.htm
for more on Ken Simons’ life.