We have been working with NHS Dorset to run workshops at day centres to raise awareness of the Yellow Health Books and annual health checks. We have also been running sessions at medical centres for people who have learning disabilities to become more aware of how to use their services and to highlight what works well.

People who work in the health centres have been meeting with people who have learning disabilities and talking with them about how to make the centres as accessible as possible.

We give feedback to the medical centres to highlight good practise and make changes where barriers are found. Barriers are things like:

• Having to wait in the waiting room
• Fear of needles
• Not knowing what to expect at an appointment
• Physical accessibility – wheelchair access
• Communication – like not having a hearing loop, and person-to-person communication during appointments

We have talked to GPs and other professionals in Primary Health Care about:

• making health services more user-friendly
• making GP appointments easy to attend and understand

What now?  We are writing reports for each of the medical centres we have visited, with ideas for how to improve their services for people with learning disabilities.

Julia Laver – Project Coordinator, Your Good Health.

Vic Waller, Chris Mellor, Project Assistants

We went on a protest in London to tell the government that our members were not happy about this.

They have decided not to cut the benefit.

Good news!

Click here to read the full story.

Dorset County Council are finding ways to save money on their services for people with Learning Disabilities.

Talk to council leaders about what you think.

Hear what they have to say about cuts, charging and changes.

Join us at the Dorford Centre, Dorchester, DT1 1RR.

Free Buffet tea provided.

In partnership with local and national Mencap, and Dorset County Council.

Download “We have the technology” (PDF file – 6MB)

It is to help Self Advocacy groups to keep in touch with each other,  to make their campaigns stronger.

Download a PDF version of our leaflet about the cuts here:

Your Care, Your Rights, Their Cuts.

Or contact us at the office if you would like a printed version to be sent to you.

You can download our Annual Report for information about what we have been up to recently!

Speak Up! Lead Change! (1.3 MB)

It will be her job to take the things that are important to people with learning difficulties in the South West to the National Forum meetings.

The National Forum reports to the Government.

Well done Kerry!

Click here to Find out more about the National Forum.