Review seeks opinions of people with a learning disability and their carers

As part of a review of policies and services that affect the lives of people with a learning disability or mental health problems, a number of public meetings have been arranged throughout Northern Ireland.

Following the setting up of a review in October 2002, a committee was set up to find out about the experiences of people with a learning disability and their families and to advise on what needs to be changed. The committee wants to hear from people with a learning disability and their family and friends who care for them.

Siobhan Bogues, who is chairing the Learning Disability Committee, said: "These are the people whose daily lives will be directly affected by the decisions made in this review, so they must have a major say in those decisions. They are the people who know what currently works well and what doesn’t work for them.

"The review is looking at key areas of every day living for people with a learning disability – where they live, what they do during the day, how they look after their health, what extra help is needed for children and young people and for older people with a learning disability."

The public meetings being held are:

• Wednesday, November 5, Market Place, Armagh
• Thursday, November 6, Grosvenor Conference Centre, Belfast
• Thursday, November 20, Adair Arms Hotel, Ballymena
• Wednesday, December 3, Silver Birch Hotel, Omagh

Meetings for carers will be held at each of these venues from 10:30am to 1pm with meetings for people with a learning disability taking place from 2pm to 4:30pm.

An additional evening meeting for carers will also take place on Tuesday December 9 at the Europa Hotel in Belfast from 6:30pm to 9pm.

Contact the review team at 028 9052 4169 to book a place at any of these events.

For people who cannot attend an event, but want to comments for the review, a Freephone message service has been set up on 0800 328 4260.

(SP)