Liberal Democrat Council Rings the Changes for People with Learning Disabilities

10.40.09pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 18th Oct 2005

The Tower 5 band, consisting of a group of Tower Drive day centre users, had their audience rocking in their seats at lunchtime as they gave their own slant to some well-known pop classics at the recent Opening Doors conference. Opening Doors is the Learning Disability Partnership Board's name for a major programme of change to improve the day services available to people with learning disabilities. The conference, attended by service users, staff, carers and partner organisations, was a celebration of what has been achieved to date and an opportunity to share future plans and aspirations.

Learning disability services have changed dramatically over the past thirty years. They have moved from sheltered workshops to adult training centres to day centres. Opening Doors was set up last November following a consultation with service users, people who may use the service in the future, family carers and staff. The aim is to provide services that are people-centred, create opportunities and listen to individual needs.

In June this year, the Joint Learning Disability Service paid for 212 people in the Milton Keynes area to access day services. The Council directly provides services at Tower Drive, Surrey Road, Beanhill and the Coffee Hall drop-in. It purchases services from SNAP, Thrift Farm and MacIntyre as well as some smaller providers.

Taking centre stage, the Tower 5 band is a fine example of what can be achieved when different agencies work together and share resources. A group of Camphill residents also took their turn on the stage when they acted out their own humorous interpretation of Opening Doors.

Liberal Democrat Councillor Irene Henderson, cabinet member for housing and social care, who attended the conference said: "This is a special event and shows just how much has been achieved already. Our clients have been involved in planning the changes they want to see. However, there are still areas that we need to work on. We need to encourage more people from black and minority ethnic groups to use our services and to improve the opportunities available for school leavers with learning disabilities."