On Wednesday 26 August, over 40 guests attended Advocacy 1st Luton’s first ever learning disability and autism forum. Your Life Your Voice brought together people with lived experience and professionals for discussions and activities on issues that are important to them.
Shyrus Naaz started the forum with a warm welcome. She explained that Your Life Your Voice was an opportunity for people in Luton to learn about support, hear people’s voices and share experiences.
Shyrus explained that in her role as Advocate and Engagement Coordinator with Advocacy 1st, she would take feedback from the forum and share it with services and organisations in Luton that support people to have better lives.
Shyrus Naaz, Advocacy and Engagement Coordinator
Before guests started on the group activities, they shared their own views on why their voices needed to be heard. People agreed that speaking up about their own needs and wishes leads to raising awareness. They also agreed that different views and experiences should be a key part of planning and providing services aimed at supporting them.
An activity at the forum
We had lively discussions about 5 topics:
Our facilitators noted people’s responses to 4 statements about the topics and then led discussions on their responses.
Forum activity notes
Our attendees discussed and then created group posters showing the changes they would like to see locally.
These were the top changes people want to see in Luton:
Posters created by forum attendees
Rachael Griffiths, who is Head of Care Act and Advocacy at Community ConneX, thanked everyone for taking part in this unique event. She said that all of the information and feedback from the forum gave a clear idea of the work that still needs to be done. Her team will use the event to plan activities that reflect and promote the needs of autistic people and people with a learning disability in Luton.
Rachael Griffiths, Head of Care Act and Advocacy