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  4. "What they want - yes, but what we want - bugger us!"

"What they want - yes, but what we want - bugger us!"

Carlisle People First with Rohhss Chapman

People with learning difficulties have been treated badly over the years so some of our talk is about group members and what has happened in their lives. We think self-advocacy has helped change a lot of peoples’ lives. It takes time for people to speak out; some people are frightened to and keep their feelings to themselves, but once you start you don’t look back.

Some people don’t want change to happen because they don’t know how to go about it so it helps if you are involved in People First because then there are other people to support you. People First has made things come on a long way even if you are thinking 20 or 30 years ago. In those days 'learning difficulties' was a dirty word, it was a case of 'Put them in hospital and forget about them.'

We think everybody with learning difficulties has such a lot to offer and can live the same life and have just as fulfilled a life as anybody who has not got a learning difficulty.

A black and white photo of AndyA black and white photo of LouA black and white photo of Malcolm

A black and white photo of LizA black and white photo of Rohhss

A colour photo of Fred Spedding giving a thumbs up gesture

Contact us

About the Group

If you woud like to get in touch with the Social History of Learning Disability (SHLD) Research Group, please contact:

Liz Tilley 
Chair of the Social History of Learning Disability (SHLD) Research Group
School of Health, Wellbeing and Social Care
Faculty of Wellbeing, Education and Language Studies
The Open University
Walton Hall
Milton Keynes
MK7 6AA

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