Community Care Live Vodcast

Community Care’sA Life Like Any Other campaign  to improve the opportunities for people with learning disabilities was launched on Wednesday this week.

The campaign, which calls for people with learning disabilities to be given the same chances as everyone else was unveiled at Community Care Live in London and given the backing of care services minister Ivan Lewis.

Ten campaign groups, including Mencap, Sense and Turning Point, also descended on Community Care Live to launch the new Learning Disability Coalition.

View the highlights of Lewis’s speech to the conference and the response of experts and activists at the event below. Also click on conference coverage and picture library to view our coverage of the event.

		Ivan Lewis announces demonstration sites linking employment, training and day services for people with learning difficulties.
		Ivan Lewis discusses the future direction of Valuing People. “It’s slowed down. I don’t think there’s the same energy and vitality as there was.”
		Ivan Lewis on people power and user control of social care services. “This personalisation, this greater level of control for those who use services will be mainstream in the future.”
		Ivan Lewis backs Community Care’s A Life Like Any Other campaign.
		Community Care deputy editor Janet Snell explains why the campaign was launched. “People with learning difficulties are one of the most marginalised groups, nobody speaks up for them.”
		Nicola Smith, co-national director for learning disabilities, backs Community Care’s A Life Like Any Other Campaign
		Inspired Services director Andrew Holman on why Valuing People has run out of steam. “We haven’t had the leadership from somebody in government strongly enough.”
		Mencap chief executive Jo Williams on the launch of the Learning Disability Coalition. “Current investment is not sufficient.”
		People First (Self Advocacy) director Andrew Lee says the attitude of the media needs to change. “Why do they refuse to report the issues that people with learning difficulties face in an adult way?”
		Valuing People national director Rob Greig welcomes Community Care’s campaign. “The biggest challenge we’ve got is the attitude of the rest of society.”