OurSelf Advocacy in Somerset

Hi everyone. My name is Ben, I work for Openstorytellers and along with 2 interns with lived experience of learning disabilities we are working on a Somerset based self-advocacy project called OurSelf Advocacy. The aim is to reach as many people in the learning disabled community and create opportunities for them to self-advocate, either with existing groups or with new groups where they are needed. We want to link self-advocates with their audiences and are working on ways to make this work well.

We are at an early stage with this work and we want to map what is out there in Somerset already, and what else is happening nationwide that could be good for us to hear about. Do let us know what you know.

Thanks - Ben, Joe and Ellie

Hi Ben, what kind of groups are you looking to connect with? I work in Marie Curie’s Information and Support Content team. We’re currently working on a project producing information for people with a learning disability about palliative and end of life care, terminal illness, dying, and grief.

We’re looking to speak to people with lived experience about their experiences, and what they want and need when it comes to this information.

Some self advocates love telling their story to lots of audiences and others end up feeling there is something wrong about it. Here’s a few thoughts on How to Honour Storytellers. https://peterbates.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/How-to-honour-storytellers.pdf

Hi Nadia, could you please send me an email, ben.waller@openstorytellers.org.uk I can link you up with a colleague who has done some work in this area previously.

Thanks Peter - a really useful paper.