About the Speakers
Samir
Samir is a bright, charismatic, sociable person with a remarkable personality. Samir has profound and multiple learning disabilities, he is a member of a ground-breaking self-advocacy group, Campaign 4 Change, and advocates for people with PMLD. He has presented at the LDE National Conference in 2020, and more recently online at the LDE Conference this year.
Erren Wheatland
ErrenWheatland is a dual registered nurse (adult and children), she has a BSC in Professional Practice and a PGC in the Epilepsies. Erren works at Achieve together as Head of Health & Clinical Governance. Erren’s career predominately has been supporting children, young people and adults with PMLD, complex health needs and life-limiting conditions in managerial and educational roles. Erren’s career was inspired by her parents who as well as raising their own children, have always fostered children with learning disabilities and complex health needs. Erren is also a parent to a teenage girl with autism.
Dawn Rooke
Dawn Rooke is a carer co-trainer for the Challenging Behaviour Foundation, helping to support families who have a loved one who displays behaviour that challenges. She is mum to two adults with a learning disability and autism and was diagnosed as autistic herself at the age of 51. She has a degree in Health and Social Care, which she obtained whilst carrying out her caring role. Dawn has also been an ‘Expert by Experience’ on the Transforming Care programme since it started in 2015, a facilitator for the ‘Managing Anger’ course developed by the National Autistic Society, and a member of the team delivering the ‘Positive Caring’ programme in Gloucestershire. She currently helps write life plans for people with ‘I’m Out of Here Ltd’ and recently set up a Community Interest Company (CIC) with colleagues from the Carers Charity to support and help families. Though this, she was involved in a pilot for the ‘Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training in Autism and Learning Disabilities’. Her passion is striving for equality for all carers and individuals, ensuring families have quality care and support, and helping improve practice. She says she is always learning.