Shifting the balance of power: putting people back in control
This talk will debate why power should be given to people with a learning disability and/or autism so they can gain more direct control over their own lives. It will also discuss how people with lived experience of learning disability who are at the heart of government policy can help drive future change.
Speakers: Scott Watkin, Jim Blair and Viki Ainsworth
Date: Thursday 16th June
Time: 2-3pm (London time)
Price: Free
Description: A lot of decisions for people with a learning disability and/or autism are made by professional voices who do not have any lived experience of learning disability, which means it takes a lot longer to work out what is going wrong and why.
This webinar will look at how to shift the balance of power in favour of individuals themselves. It will discuss why action needs to be taken now to model and shape good practice across all services to improve the health and wellbeing of those with a learning disability.
It will also look at how people with learning disabilities, those with parental or family experiences, and individuals from a professional background can work together to achieve change through joint ownership, responsibility, and accountability.
About the Speakers
Scott Watkin
Scott Watkin, Head of Engagement, Seeability
Scott Watkin BEM is a learning disability campaigner who in 2009 was appointed the government’s learning disabilities Co-Tsar, representing people with learning disabilities at the heart of policymaking and government. Now, Scott leads an engagement programme at SeeAbility where he supports people with learning disabilities and autism to become future leaders.
Jim Blair
Jim Blair, Learning Disability Nurse Consultant
Jim Blair is an Independent Consultant Nurse Learning Disabilities and Associate Professor Intellectual (Learning) Disabilities at Kingston University and St George’s University of London. His numerous other roles include Learning Disability Nurse Advisor for the Labour Party, Chair/Clinical Advisor for NHS England for Care Treatment Reviews, a Panel Member of the Nursing and Midwifery Council’s Fitness to Practice Panel, and Chair of the Royal College of Nursing London Board. Jim is also a Patron of Dance Syndrome and is on the editorial board of Intellectual Disability and Health.
Viki Ainsworth
Viki Ainsworth, expert by experience
Viki Ainsworth is a journalist, author and co-director of a TV and media training company. She is also an expert by experience as one of her three children, Tilly, is a 24-year-old with a severe learning disability. Viki is part of the Parental Advisory Group at Great Ormond Street Hospital and is an Expert by Experience for NHS England, sitting on the Care Treatment Review (CTR) and Care Education and Treatment Review (CETR) panels. She is also an author with two books published on accessing healthcare for people with learning disabilities and autism and is a qualified Personal Trainer specialising in the older population.