Better support and opportunities for Telford and Wrekin residents with a learning disability and their families
Telford and Wrekin Council, along with local partners, is making significant progress in implementing the borough-wide "Live Well with a Learning Disability” strategy.
The "Live Well with a Learning Disability" strategy aims to ensure that all adults with a learning disability in Telford and Wrekin confidently enjoy a full and independent life, with equal access to community opportunities.
Councillor Paul Watling (Lab), Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Health Systems at Telford & Wrekin Council said:
“Our goal is to provide people with a learning disability with more choices, improve their health and well-being and enhance their leisure and employment opportunities.
"By closely working with our residents with a learning disability, their families, and carers, we identified areas where we can help make a positive difference in their lives.
“They tell us what we can do to help improve their lives and we work alongside them to bring about these changes.
“Together, we have achieved so many things so far that are making a difference:
•Improving health and wellbeing
Together with Telford and Wrekin Council for Voluntary Service (CVS) and with our Healthy Lifestyles team, we are holding regular Café Aspire drop-in sessions across the borough. These help adults with a learning disability to get information and advice about healthy lifestyles, talk to support services and health professionals about health checks and learn about community activities.
•Enhancing leisure opportunities
We are closely working with our leisure services, service users and partners to make our council's gym centres more inclusive and accessible. We have recently opened another inclusive gym at Stirchley.
•Promoting independence
Our council is using the AutonoMe app to assists adults with a learning disability in daily tasks and to foster independence.
Additionally, our Independent Living Centre in central Telford offers regular Learning Disability Hub sessions, providing information, advice and insights into digital technologies that support independence.
•Creating employment opportunities
People with a learning disability told us how important it is for them to have a job and learn new skills. Through our Stepping into Work programme and collaboration with local employers, we are dedicated to supporting them in finding local jobs.
Embracing diversity in workplaces and local groups brings different perspectives and benefits the entire community.
“Over the next years, we will continue to work together with people with a learning disability, their families and carers, to expand opportunities in our borough and empower them to have more control over their lives.
“We are also appealing for more people with a learning disability to join us in co-producing and shaping services that impact them and influence changes that still need to be done.”
If you're interested to join the Telford Voices group, a group who gets together weekly to help improve local services for people with a learning disability, get in touch at myoptions@telford.gov.uk
For more details about the borough-wide strategy for people with a learning disability in the borough and the support available visit www.telford.gov.uk/LD
Photo (caption, left to right): Councillor Paul Watling (Lab), Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Health Systems with Telford Voices members at Skills & Enterprise Hub Open Afternoon event celebrating Learning Disability Week, on Tuesday, 20 June
