Including people
Inclusion is about making sure that all people, whatever their abilities, have the same opportunities as other people to participate in and contribute to their community and society generally.
There are many ways in which people with disabilities and other support needs are excluded from society: barriers to access; other people's prejudice, ignorance and unwillingness to include people who are different in some way; lack of resources and support to assist people to be included; poverty; inaccessible transport; and many others.
Advocacy is about supporting people to be included in their communities. This may be through ensuring that they take part in making choices and decisions. Or it may be through supporting them to be included in local activities.
Inclusion involves seeing and developing the talents that everyone has, and ensuring they have opportunities to contribute. It is also about everyone thinking about how they can communicate in a way that people can understand, and how they can act in a way that includes others.
At Partners in Advocacy we believe that inclusion starts at home. We are committed to making sure that the organisation is as inclusive of people with learning disabilities and other support needs as possible.
One of the ways we do this is through our local groups—comprising people from the local community, including people with learning disabilities. People can take part in consultations, planning conferences, training advocates, talking to community groups, producing the newsletter, helping out in the office, helping at fundraising events etc. They receive training and support to engage in these activities.
We also want to involve young people in the organisation. There are young people's advisory groups in Glasgow and Dundee.
If you want more information about how to be involved, contact your local co-ordinator.