SEMINAR. PMLD transitions - are local standards working in York?

Making the transition to adult life is a major event for anyone. For young people with profound and multiple learning disabilities (PMLD) the route to safe independent living is made more complicated when services are inadequate or inappropriate. It is not clear how well published National Standards are understood locally nor how well they are being met locally. Come and listen to speakers from other parts of the country whether you are a young person with PMLD, a family member, a professional, an academic or an elected member.

This event will look at the national standards for services to people with profound and multiple learning disabilities (known as PMLD). Using a mixture of presentations and discussion, it will consider how well those standards are being met in York for today’s teenagers and young adults, including:

• What are the national standards for services to people with profound and multiple disabilities?
• How do they apply for someone moving towards adulthood or who is a young adult?
• How are those standards applied locally here in York?
• Which services do they apply to

It will be of interest to staff and volunteers from statutory, voluntary and private sector organisations, commissioners, elected members, people with PMLD, parents, family members and allies.

Speakers include:

Elly Chapple*, founder of CanDoELLA and consultant for Studio III, ‘Why we need to #flipthenarrative’

Pippa Murray*, IBK Initiatives, ‘Promoting the voices of disabled young people and families, Supporting practitioners and policy makers to listen’

There will be opportunity for discussion about ‘what works’, ‘what gets in the way’ and strategies for improvement.

We are also delighted to welcome an offer from HealthWatch York. If you are someone with direct experience, they would love to capture your stories and share them in a short report highlighting local experiences of care and support for people with profound and multiple learning difficulties. Learn more at the event itself!

*Elly’s passion and interest is equality and inclusion for all, to ensure everyone has a seat at the table. In 2014 when her eldest daughter lost her vision through misunderstanding of her disability, Elly sold her business and began another journey. She recently did her TEDx at Norwich sharing their journey to #flipthenarrative/

*Pippa founded ibk initiatives to transform the current special education system and the support available for disabled children and their families. She has authored several books highlighting the need for reform and is a fellow of The Centre for Welfare Reform.

We intend this to be a fully inclusive event, so please let us know if you need us to facilitate any access or other requirements.