Hi readers, it's William here this week talking about Action Groups.
You might think that as Emily and Kerry aren’t here today, this article is going to be about some kind of male action adventure thing, but it’s quite a different sort of action I am talking about.
So, the Action Groups, which take place across Dorset, have the aim of making things better for people with a learning disability. Anyone with a learning disability can attend, and with support from the team at People First Dorset, we talk about things we want to make better in our lives. We then do something about it, which is where the action bit comes in!
I go to the Action Group in Dorchester, and recently we’ve been discussing wheelchair access, as a couple of lifts to restaurants in town have been broken for months. We wrote and asked when they’d be fixed. Their reply said sorry it’s taken so long but they are waiting for parts from abroad. Although that’s not great news, at least we know why they aren’t getting fixed. It’s all about good communication. Even if it doesn’t solve something straight away, it’s good to know why.
Another thing people with a learning disability find hard, is to get jobs. I think it would be good if we could talk with local businesses sometime. To tell them we want to work, that we can work hard and are good employees. Maybe if we communicate that, more employers will give us a chance. If you are reading this and run a business, is there a way you could employ someone with a learning disability in your organisation? You never know, it could be the best thing you ever did.
The writers of the Our View column are supported in their editing by People First Dorset - a charity led and run by people with learning disabilities with support from staff.
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