Press Release
25th September 2009
Politicians must make democracy more accessible, says learning disability charity, United Response
With a general election imminent, the national learning disability charity, United Response, is launching a set of guides – Making Democracy Accessible – to help politicians, party workers and public officials communicate more effectively with the thousands of people with learning disabilities, who are currently not using their vote.
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 voting. 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%.
The research shows that a lack of easy to understand information about candidates and policies, along with the complexity of the democratic system, are key reasons for constituents with learning disabilities not using their vote.
Funded by the Electoral Commission, the Making Democracy Accessible guides include:
- A five point guide on how to make public and political information – including pamphlets, manifestos and websites – more accessible
- 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.
- Details of organisations that can help to make information easier to understand.
Su Sayer, chief executive of United Response said:
“People with learning disabilities are affected by decisions made at a national and local level in the same way as everyone else. Yet information about the democratic process is often presented in a way which is confusing and full of jargon, making it difficult for people to form and register an opinion on an issue. As a result, many people who would like to vote currently find themselves excluded from a system, which is meant to be there to represent them.
“By launching theses guides we are urging those working in the political and public arenas to do all they can to ensure that people with learning disabilities have their voices heard and are providing them with the tools to do so.”
Lizzie Emeh, who has learning disabilities and lives in London, said:
“Even people without disabilities find it hard to understand politics. They just speak jargon and don’t get to the point… Politicians don’t involve us. If people with disabilities all vote we will be heard. The more we get our voices heard, the more people will respect us.”
To find out more about Making Democracy Accessible and to order a copy of the resource, go to www.unitedresponse.org.uk/mda
Making Democracy Accessible is part of Every Vote Counts – a three year project funded by the Electoral Commission. To find out more visit www.everyvotecounts.org.uk
Ends
For more information please contact Sarah Bartlett or Jaime Gill in the United Response Press Office onemail Jaime.Gill@unitedresponse.org.ukorSarah.Bartlett@unitedresponse.org.uk
or call 020 8246 5122 / 020 8246 5237
Notes to editors:
- United Response is a top 100 charity operating in England and Wales, providing a range of support and services for more than 1,500 people with learning disabilities, mental health needs or physical disabilities. We employ over 2,000 people across the organisation and have won many awards for our pioneering work since being founded in 1973.
- Our mission is to enable people with learning disabilities, mental health needs and physical disabilities to take control of their lives.
- Our vision is a society where disabled people are equal participants and have access to the same rights and opportunities as everyone else.
- The services we provide depend on each person we work with. We can provide 24-hour support for people with profound physical needs, or just a few hours for those who need less support to live their lives. We can job coach someone into meaningful paid employment. We can provide outreach support for someone with a mental health need or help people who find it difficult to communicate by making information more accessible. The key to our success is that we work with each person to do the things they want to do, supporting them to communicate what they want and tell us how we are doing.
- In support of our vision, we also campaign to improve the lives of people with disabilities in society. This may mean lobbying decision makers such as MPs to ensure that people’s voices are heard or it might mean working directly with disabled people so that they can be more directly engaged in the democratic process. We also work with employers to ensure that more people with learning disabilities, mental health needs and physical disabilities get a fair opportunity to work.
- In 2008 alone, we were shortlisted as best employer in the Third Sector Excellence Awards and highly commended for our Annual Report. We also won a highly prestigious National Training Award for the investment we make in our staff. To find out more please visit www.unitedresponse.org.uk.
- The Electoral Commission is an independent body set up by the UK Parliament. Its aim is integrity and public confidence in the UK’s democratic process. It regulates party and election finance and sets standards for well-run elections.
- In 2007, The Electoral Commission awarded United Response a grant of £123,586 to implement Every Vote Counts, a three year project aimed at making politics directly relevant to people with learning disabilities, to extend their understanding of how politics affects their everyday lives, and to support them to become actively involved.
