AS the Scottish Government gets ready to introduce the Self-Directed Support, Bill Peter Scott – chief executive of the leading learning disability charity, ENABLE Scotland – confirms this is what the charity and its members have long been campaigning for.
Says a spokesperson: “Self-directed support offers people the choice of taking control of the funding they are entitled to so that they can buy or arrange their own support packages to meet their personal, social and healthcare needs.
“Self-directed support gives individuals the opportunity to work with providers to find alternative models of service delivery such as individual service funds.
“This gives people greater choice and control over their care and support – allowing them to life the live they choose.
“The Scottish Government is aiming to significantly increase the number of people who direct their own support.
“This captures ENABLE Scotland’s long-standing ambition for people who have a learning disability to be valued and respected and to be given the opportunity to direct their own support and make the big decisions that affect their life.”
Speaking about the introduction of the government’s Self-Directed Support Bill, Peter Scott said: “ENABLE Scotland is pleased that the Scottish Government is bringing forward legislation to introduce the right for all people who have social care or support needs to direct their own support.
“We welcome the positive changes to the way social care is delivered in Scotland, that this legislation will bring, and which our members have long been campaigning for.
“Self-directed support will provide people who have a learning disability with the opportunity to take control of, and have more choice over, how their needs are met.
“People who have a learning disability, together with their families, are the right people to decide what they want from their lives, and self-directed support will give them the best opportunity to achieve this. This legislation is an important step on the journey to putting every person in control of the support they need to live the life of their choice.”
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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.
Contact
Nikki Slowey, PR Consultant
07921 657185 e: nikki.slowey@enable.org.uk
Geraldine Higgins, Marketing Manager
t. 0141 225 1660 m. 07889 456098 e. geraldine.higgins@enable.org.uk
ENABLE ENABLE Scotland, Charity No SC009024 and company limited by guarantee Reg No 278976 Scotland (full details of associated companies and branches can be supplied on request.
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