Human Rights Defenders Aaron Hume and Fiona Dawson interviewed Oonagh Brown about her experience representing the Scottish Commission for People with Learning Disabilities (SCLD) at the Universal Periodic Review of the United Kingdom at the United Nations… Aaron: For those who don’t know yet, who are you and what is your role at SCLD? My name is Oonagh Brown. I …
SCLD welcomes the recent publication of the final report of the independent Scottish Mental Health Law Review. You can download the easy read version here. The Review team have spoken to our Expert Group on a number of occasions, and SCLD has given detailed written feedback at each stage of the review. There are many important human rights issues at …
On 27 September, the Scottish Government published its Review of Supported Employment within Scotland. You can download SCLD’s easy read version here. Providing access to meaningful employment for disabled people, including people with learning disabilities, is critically important. This review looks at the role of supported employment in making paid employment accessible to everyone. SCLD’s Chief Executive, Charlie McMillan, chaired …
Dr Brodie Paterson is an experienced practitioner, researcher, and expert witness with degrees in psychology, education and social policy and has published more than a hundred papers, book chapters and research reports. He is currently Clinical Director of CALM Training, a specialist consultancy, support, and training provider to services supporting people whose distress may present as behaviour that challenges. In …
The legislative landscape in Scotland is becoming increasingly complex, but also ever more relevant to the daily lives of people with learning disabilities. It is important for the Scottish Commission for People with Learning Disabilities (SCLD) to set out our position as a human rights defender organisation. Today we have published a Position Statement to explore the context of the …
Earlier this year SCLD commissioned nine Project Ability artists to create a range of icons and illustrations which represented what human rights meant to them. Some of the artwork was initially displayed as a ‘human rights mural’ to mark Scottish Learning Disability Week 2022 and its human rights theme. We also wanted to use the artwork to update the SCLD website …
Aaron Hume, a member of SCLD’s Learning Disability and Human Rights Lived Experience Board writes about the Board’s recent meeting with Christina McKelvie MSP and the importance of being heard when it comes to human rights… “Recently the SCLD Human Rights Lived Experience Board had the pleasure of having Minister for Equalities and Older People, Christina McKelvie MSP, come along …
Nearly four months into the war in Ukraine, and reports are coming out of the country describing the terrible hardship faced by people with learning disabilities and their families. The Coalition for the Protection of Rights of Persons with Intellectual Disabilities has written a report called 100 days, describing what the war has been like for people with learning disabilities …
Housing is an important issue for many people with a learning disability. It can be difficult to find the right kind of home, with the right amenities, adaptations and community, as well as ensuring that an individual has the right support at home, whether they are living independently, receiving support, or living in supported accommodation. For people with learning disabilities, …
The Learning Disability and Human Rights Bill Lived Experience Board brings together a diverse group of people with learning disabilities to inform the new Human Rights Bill for Scotland. We are about to publish the first report from SCLD’s Lived Experience Board. The report will cover the first two blocks of the Board’s meetings, demonstrating the valuable input from the …
