People with learning disabilities have been kept out of community life in the past. Not any more. We are going to ordinary schools with our brothers and sisters, we live in our own homes, have jobs and do a lot for our communities.
There is still a lot to be done to make life better for some of us, but we want to celebrate all we have achieved.
Please make sure you check Covid restrictions in your area if you are planning an event. In some parts of the UK this may mean a virtual event. Virtual events can be fun too!
What is Learning Disability Pride?
Learning Disability Pride is a week of celebrations across Britain. We want people with learning disabilities, their friends, families and supporters to have marches, walks, parties and events all across the country from 19 to 26 June 2021.
Learning Disability Pride | 19–26 June 2021
Learning Disability Pride is led by Gary Bourlet, a leader in the People First movement and Founder of Learning Disability England.
Get involved
Nobody owns Learning Disability Pride so it’s yours to do what you want with. You can get involved in Learning Disability Pride in lots of ways. You can:
Host an event in your community (check Covid rules)
Go to an event (check Covid rules)
Support Learning Disability Pride on social media and use the hashtags #LearningDisabilityPride or #LDPride (if you need a short one)
And please let us know – share what you do on social media
Ideas for joining in
Use the logo
Use this logo when you tell local people about Learning Disability Pride
Let us know
If you are hosting an event, please tell us on our Learning Disability Pride Facebook page so we can share the pride with everyone.
How you can celebrate Learning Disability Pride.
We want people to make Learning Disability Pride their own so that means that you can do what you want.
Three rules…
There are only three rules about having a Learning Disability Pride event:
1. You must not do anything illegal (make sure to check the Covid rules)
2. We want you to make your event inclusive so that we give a clear message that people with learning disabilities are part of their communities.
3. If you are hosting an event, please tell us on our Learning Disability Pride Facebook page so we can share the pride with everyone.
MARCH
You can organise a big march where you hold placards, play music and shout about your pride. (check Covid rules)
If you march you must tell the police at least 6 days before you march. Get more information here www.gov.uk/protests-and-marches-letting-the-police-know
WALK
Do a group walk. Invite people you do and don’t know to come. (check Covid rules)
Tell people you meet on your walk what Learning Disability Pride is about.
PARTY
Hold a party and invite people from your community. (check Covid rules)
You could hold it in a community venue, have music and food and just have a good time.
EVENT
You could hold an event where you have people with learning disabilities speaking about their lives. (check Covid rules)
You could ask your town hall, leisure centre or library to host the event and invite anyone from your community who wants to come.
MAKE A SPLASH ON SOCIAL MEDIA
Tell everyone what you are doing on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
Ask celebrities and other people with lots of followers to support you. USE THE HASHTAG #LearningDisabilityPride or #LDPride (if you need a short one)
PICNIC
Hold a picnic in your local park. (check Covid rules)
Bring some food and extra to share with others. Invite local people to come and have a drink and eat with you.
BUY MERCHANDISE
We have designed some t-shirts, sweatshirts, badges and other items for Learning Disability Pride. You see them and buy online at our T-shirt shop shop.spreadshirt.co.uk/learning-disability-pride.
At least £2 from each T-shirt sale will go to the Self-advocacy organisation My Life, My Choice www.mylifemychoice.org.uk.
CRAFTIVISM
Craftivism is where you can get your message across using craft.
Some people decorate public spaces like bridges and benches with things that tell their story, some people make things and leave them all over their community to make people think.
Find out more about craftivism here.
TELL US WHAT YOU ARE DOING
Keep us updated on what you are doing through our Learning Disability Pride Facebook page so we can share.
We want to see your flyers, photos, ideas and everything you do at your event so please share with us by tagging us or posting on our page.
Northern Ireland
For people living in Northern Ireland there is a separate Learning Disability Pride event http://learningdisabilitypride.org/