MICHAEL Matheson the Minister for Public Health is set to open ENABLE Scotland’s AGM in Glasgow on Saturday 29 October 2011.
ENABLE Scotland is one of the leading charities for people who have learning disabilities and their families in Scotland.
This is the first time a Scottish Parliamentary Minister has opened the charity’s AGM in its 57-year history.
Public Health Minister, Michael Matheson, said: “Enhancing services to improve the lives of people with a learning disability is a very important agenda, which is why the Scottish Government is bringing forward a Self-Directed Support Bill to enshrine in law the right to choose how support is provided to everyone eligible for social care.
“Other initiatives such as our Carers Strategy, now into its second year of implementation, and our reshaping care agenda will build on our commitment to working with ENABLE Scotland to provide the best possible support to people with learning disabilities and their families.”
ENABLE Scotland is a member-led organisation. It has 4,500 memberbased across 54 branches throughout Scotland.
The majority of ENABLE Scotland’s members are people who have learning disabilities, their families and carers and collectively, they play an active role in the governance of the organisation.
They also provide us with a clear understanding of the needs and anxieties of those with a learning disability and are pivotal in helping to drive our various national campaigns.
With such a wide reaching membership, the organisation hosts the AGM at different locations throughout Scotland each year, and this year’s meeting will take place at Touchbase in Glasgow.
Jo Armstrong, chair of ENABLE Scotland, said:“We are delighted that the Minister for Public Health has agreed to open our AGM this year.
“We look forward to hearing the Scottish Government’s plans for services which will offer people who have learning disabilities the flexibility to live the life they choose.
“In particular, we are excited by the commitment to legislation on self-directed support which will give people who have learning disabilities greater choice and control in their lives.”
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ENABLE Scotland
ENABLE Scotland is one of Scotland’s leading charities for children and adults who have a learning disability and their families and carers.
ENABLE Scotland campaigns for people who have a learning disability to live full and independent lives.
ENABLE Scotland is a member-led organisation formed in 1954 by a group of families.
Local ENABLE branches are made up of volunteers – mostly people who have a learning disability, their families and carers.
1.5 million people in the UK have a learning disability. The most well known learning disability is Down’s syndrome, although there are many others.
ENABLE Scotland provides services, information and advice to allow people, who have a learning disability to live, work and take part in their communities – living the life they want.
MEDIA RELEASE posted by Enable Scotland. You too can post media releases (aka press releases) on allmediascotland.com. For more information, email here.
Contact: Nikki Slowey
Phone: 07921657185
Email: nikki.slowey@enable.org.uk
Website: http://www.enable.org.uk
