Empowerment films – what empowerment means to me

Transforming Care is all about improving the lives of people with learning disability and/or autism who display behaviours that are described as challenging. We know that when people are empowered to live the way they choose and are involved in planning their support and care they have better lives.

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The Local Government Association leads the empowerment workstream for the Transforming Care Programme.

To support the workstream the LGA has set up the national empowerment steering group for the Transforming Care Programme to oversee the work.

Members of the empowerment steering group are all experts by experience. They all have experience of long stays in hospital, or have family members with experience.

Members of the group are now living good lives in the community and have worked together to develop a film about what being empowered means to them.

You can watch the group's empowerment films here:

About the programme and the importance of empowering people

 

What empowerment means to me: members of the empowerment steering group tell their stories 

There are also longer films for each of the individuals who are featured in the film available:

Phill and Josh's story

Phill gives his perspective of Josh's move home to Cornwall. In the film Phill describes how the whole family has been empowered as a result of the good support that Josh is getting in the community.

Lucy's story

Lucy and her Mum describe how Lucy has been empowered to live the life she wants, including through choosing her own home and her own staff team, and learning to travel independently.

Peter's story

Peter talks about being empowered to live the life he wants, including through choosing his own home and décor, looking after his pets and being able to get out and about when he wants to.

Derek's story

Derek talks about the importance of having the right support around him so that he can live independently and stay safe and well. He is empowered to live the life he wants and has a job that he enjoys and opportunities to learn new skills.

Jason's story

Jason talks about his role as a self-advocate and the importance of people with a learning disability being empowered to have a voice. He talks about being able to do the things that he likes to do and feels proud of his achievements.