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Big Event draws 300 adults with learning disabilities

Over 300 adults and carers attended a learning disability 'Big Event' organised by Aberdeen City Council at the Citadel.

The event, aimed at promoting the evolving opportunities for people with learning disabilities, was co-ordinated by Moveable Feast, a nationally renowned inclusive arts and drama organisation.

The event was opened by Tom Cowan, the City Council’s Head of Adult Services, who outlined the council’s vision as one in which adults with learning disabilities feel genuinely included in the community, free from the constraints of fitting into available services, and able to make genuine choices about the shape and nature of the support and activities they want to have.

He said Aberdeen was leading the way with learning disability choice and inclusion, and now had more people than anywhere else in Scotland with access to their own personal budget for services.

Mr Cowan said: “Personal budgets allow people to shape and improve services by exerting market forces. Individuals with spending power cannot be ignored or marginalised.

“There are still some barriers to overcome, some cultural, some organisational, before the journey is complete, but the first important steps have been taken and events such as this demonstrate the desire and intention to shape positive change.”

The event also saw the announcement of the opening of an 'Info-Hub' on 4 July. The hub, the first of its kind in Scotland, will be off one-stop-shop access to information and support. A key element will be the development of interactive on-line support, including a unique website' – again, the first of its kind in Scotland.

Presentations at the Big Event on Thurs 16 June included performances from MiXiT, an inclusive band of singers and performers, and from Create Aberdeen, Inspire, Cornerstone and Archway.

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