![](https://www.learningdisabilityengland.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Gary-Bourlet.jpg)
Gary Bourlet, Membership and Engagment Lead for Learning Disability England introduces a new film
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Learning Disability England and Speakup Advocacy have been putting together a film called ‘Impact of Advocacy’.
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It looks at the changes that have happened since people with a learning disability have felt empowered to speak up for themselves.
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It looks into the important history of the self-advocacy movement and speaks to many inspirational people with a learning disability about their stories.
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Last week we launched the film as part of Advocacy Awareness Week.
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As a figure in the Self-Advocacy movement for over 37 and half years and a co-founder of People First in the UK, I have personally seen the impact it has made over the years.
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As the film shows, it was incredibly tough in those early years.
It was very difficult for people with a learning disability to speak up for themselves, for their rights and the injustice that was happening.
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All the power to make change was in the hands of provider organisations and families.
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Things began by small groups of people with learning disabilities coming together, sometimes hidden away in attics out of fear of speaking out!
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They would speak about the issues they were having in their day centres.
I was part of many of these meetings.
People were angry and upset about how they were being run and how they were being treated.
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These meetings gave people a chance to talk about their lives and plan for action to make them better.
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It then moved on from just speaking about their experiences in day centres and onto what was happening to them in society.
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It was a battle in the 80’s to get things going, even the charities commission said we could not run our own charity.
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But we have fought for change for a long time and we have fought for freedom and dignity.
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Self-Advocacy groups are not just social clubs now as they once were and go beyond even charities now.
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Together they have formed a whole civil and human rights movement.
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Don’t get me wrong, self-advocacy is fun and brings joy and mutual support to people’s lives but it is also busy.
Self-advocates make a difference and get things done.
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That is why I always advocate for people with a learning disability being paid a decent wage for their time and energy.
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This film recognises what self-advocates have achieved through determination to create better lives for themselves and other people with a learning disability.
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The people in the film are, like me, very passionate and believe in inequality and justice.
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They believe in the worth of all people, regardless of disability or ability.
![](https://www.learningdisabilityengland.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Forward-1.png)
I am sure that another 30 years into the future, we will be able to look back again at the impact self-advocates have gone on to have on the world and be blown away.
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I hope we will also be seeing many more people with a learning disability living Good Lives.
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Please watch and share the film below…