I found out about Lewisham Speaking Up in 2014 when I was getting support from Nexus. I had a support worker once a week, and I attended one session at Lewisham Speaking Up. At that time I was quite confused about what it was so I went to one and then didn’t go back for a while.
Around two and a half years later, I got a letter in the post about a People’s Parliament on employment for people with learning disabilities. I looked carefully and realized that this resonates with me. When I attended and heard people’s experiences I was able to share my experience and realized that I am not alone, and that so many other disabled people face these barriers.
Since then I have attended more regularly, and I have felt part of Lewisham Speaking Up. The staff made me feel welcome, it was engaging and inclusive. I have enjoyed coming to People’s Parliament and making a contribution. It’s given me the chance to engage in other areas I wasn’t familiar with, to learn and understand.
I used to be a trustee but my time as a trustee was short. The numbers and the spending wasn’t presented in Easy Read back then, it wasn’t the right role for me. When I saw the role as elected parliamentary rep, I applied for it because I have been involved with so many campaigns with other charities around benefits and unemployment. I helped pass the Autism Bill in the House of Lords. Also, since being with my union I have been trying to improve representation for disabled workers and workers from minority ethnic backgrounds. I am good at suggesting ideas for change.
As a rep, I have been able to share my knowledge and it’s been good to network with other organisations from across the country and see the work they are doing. One of my favourite achievements is going to the Positive Voices Conference in Birmingham, and meeting all the other self advocacy groups. I am going again this year. I even used my experience from being a trustee to suggest that we start using Easy Read for the money and spending information.
Being a rep has been the best experience I have had. It has made me want to pursue this further to look for job opportunities within self advocacy groups.