Learning Disability Week 2025

Round-up of the Week

During Learning Disability Week 2025, ARC NI embraced the theme “Do You See Me?”. A call to action reminding everyone to truly see, hear, and value people with a learning disability. It was a week full of reflection, celebration, and connection.  But also a week of us doing our ‘business as usual’.  Here’s how!

Equality & Inclusion – Through Getting Voices Heard!

This is our daily bread and butter!  Because we prioritise amplifying the voices of Experts By Experience and have done for the past 25 years!

A key highlight was our involvement in the Ombudsman Association Conference, where Leslie-Anne (ARC NI Director) and Joseph Turnbull (Expert by Experience) shared powerful lived experiences and challenged assumptions. Together, they led discussions on how Ombuds people can:

• Communicate more inclusively
• Involve people with a learning disability and autism in shaping and reviewing systems and services
• Make complaints processes more accessible

Their message was clear: meaningful change happens when people with a learning disability, autism and other support needs are at the heart of the conversation.

Knowledge & Rights – Through Training & Practice

We continue to support the social care sector to reflect, review and further develop their practice through training.  Courses that we covered over the past two weeks helped individuals and organisations better understand how to:

• support people with a learning disability who have dementia
• undertake their role as a Registered Manager of a regulated service
• deliver good safeguarding support to the people they support and how to ensure good governance through the the role of the Safeguarding Champion.

Participants left with not just new knowledge, but with a renewed commitment to building inclusive environments where everyone can succeed.

Safeguarding Training

Choice & Control – Through Meetings & Projects

ARC NI brings people together to talk about ways that services and supports can be improved to ensure a person with a learning disability has their human rights upheld and they treated as an equal citizen in society.

One example during the week was supporting the Department for the Economy to talk to Supported Employment providers about a careers portal that is being developed for all citizens in Northern Ireland.  We wanted to help the Department think through the ways this can be equally accessible to people with a learning disability and autism as they transition from education into the world of day opportunities, volunteering or employment.

We also brought people together to talk about how systems and services can be improved to ensure people with a learning disability, who lack capacity, can get access to their own money.  This is very complicated because there are appointees that have to ensure there are good safeguards in place but we have heard this can stop people getting the things they want and need and in a timely manner.

But ARC NI also takes part in other people’s meetings!

We are a partner in the Northern Ireland Forensic Managed Care Network which supports people at risk of offending or who have offended, with a strong focus on human rights.  The network brings together services across Health, Social Care, and the Criminal Justice system to ensure individuals receive safe, high-quality care in the right place, at the right time. It also works closely with community and voluntary groups, service users, and families to improve support.

We recently attended a workshop during Learning Disability Week to help shape the network’s next five-year strategy. Priorities include; Transitions, Infrastructure, and Trauma-Informed Practice & Care. The new strategy is expected to be published in Autumn 2025. In addition, we’re also supporting a subgroup of the Forensic Managed Care Network. This will identify future research priorities, based on input from people with lived experience, providers, and family carers. Over 300 people have completed a survey to date, with TILII Translates playing a key role in making it accessible to all

Community – Through Connections & Fun!

But Learning Disability Week is all about fun and ARC NI loves having a laugh!  TILII celebrated the week by having parties, making mocktails and of course, taking part in a parade!

Learning Disability Pride

We ended the week in Carrickfergus at Learning Disability Pride. The turnout from the learning disability community and beyond was incredible and it was wonderful to see everyone marching through Carrickfergus being loud and proud! Once we got to the car park, TILII members manned the stall and advertised the advocacy work that they do.

Marching through Carrickfergus

Our Rights Tree was filled with flowers and leaves naming key rights – a powerful symbol of collective voice and visibility. It was wonderful to see our tree bloom and grow throughout the week with everyone’s important contributions. Altogether, a fabulous day had by all as we basked in the sun, enjoyed some grub and watched some amazing performances by various talented individuals and groups!

Danny (TILII) at Pride

A Lasting Message

Learning Disability Week reminded us that inclusion isn’t a one-week event—it’s a lifelong commitment. It means:

• Seeing the person, not just the label
• Listening with patience and intent
• Celebrating ability, not focusing on limitation

This week, and every week ARC NI doesn’t just talk about visibility—we live it. And we’ll continue to carry that energy forward to deliver on our vision – a world where everyone is truly seen, respected and equal.

When someone asks, “Do you see me?” We say — Yes. We see you. We hear you. And we’re making real change with you.