Making Democracy Accessible
Making Democracy Accessible is a resource, launched by United Response as part of a three year campaign entitled Every Vote Counts. Funded by the Electoral Commission, Every Vote Counts aims to make politics directly relevant to people with a learning disability.
People with learning disabilities have the same right to vote as everyone else, yet at present many of the 1 million adults with learning disabilities in England are not using their vote.
Research carried out by United Response among the people it supports, shows that while 80% are registered to vote, only 16% voted in the 2005 General Election, compared with a national turnout of 61%.
Many people with learning disabilities and their supporters cited a lack of easy to understand information about candidates and policies, along with the complexity of the democratic system, as key reasons for not using their vote.
The resource includes:
- a five point guide on how to make public and political information – including pamphlets, manifestos and websites – more accessible
- background information on how to engage with learning disabled constituents
- information on the duties and responsibilities of political stakeholders to make information available to disabled people
- signposting to organisations which can help to make information easier to understand.
How can I get involved?
If you are a politician, public official or party worker and would like a free copy of the Making Democracy Accessible resource, please email mailto:charlotte.padgett@unitedresponse.org.uk
If you are someone with a learning disability or someone who works with people with learning disabilities, we need your help to tell more people about Making Democracy Accessible.
Factsheet
We have made a factsheet.
You can download the factsheet as a Word document
You can download the factsheet as a PDF
You can read the factsheet on this website
Links and information
About Every Vote Counts
As part of Every Vote Counts, United Response has worked in partnership with people with learning disabilities to produce a resource and website specifically for people with learning disabilities and those who support them. The resources provide accessible information on how politics works, how it affects peoples’ lives and how people can get involved and register their opinion.
Go to the Every Vote Counts! website
