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Petition Tag - learning disability
1. Social Care Should be a Government Priority 
Millions of people are affected by Social Care in the UK, whether as users, relatives of users, workers providing services or volunteering time and money to social care.
The cost of providing social care is more than £16 billion, much more than is spent on more prominent issues, such as immigration.
Yet social care is often given a low priority by Government policy and ignored by much of the national media.
2. Save Local Area Coordination Services Argyll and Bute
Four Local Area Coordinators have been operational in Argyll and Bute since 2002. Their appointments were a direct result of recommendations from 'Same As You?' strategy document for people with learning disabilities.
The approach is based on helping people and their families develop their strengths and as a result, have more control over their lives.
The specific role of Local Area Coordinators centres around supporting people to play an active role in their local communities; assisting them to identify gaps in services and supports and encouraging organisations to develop better arrangements and services; and helping people to clarify their unique set of goals and how to achieve these.
Argyll and Bute Council Social Work Department are in the process of identifying areas where they can make service cuts and budgetary savings. They propose to cut the entire LAC service throughout the area. This will be discussed at an Executive Committee meeting of the Council on 28 January 2010 at Lochgilphead, Argyll and Bute. It is essential that the local community is made aware of this situation and given the opportunity to voice their opinion on these proposed devastating cuts.
3. Free Bus Passes For Disabled People Any Time, Any Day
We are Bradford People First a self advocacy group, run by and for people with a Learning disability.
• We are running a campaign to enable people with learning disabilities and disabilities to travel on buses before 9.30am Monday to Friday using our concessionary bus passes.
• We are unable to use our bus passes before this time so we are limited to the time we start work , attend college, do voluntary work , get to medical appointments etc
• We feel that we are discriminated against, treated unfairly and often humiliated being asked to get off the bus.
• We are unable to afford to pay full fare as many of us are on benefits and often travel with carers, who we also would have to pay full fare for.
• Like many other people with a learning disability we are dependent on public transport as we cannot drive.
• Other councils across the U.K. have implemented a scheme which enables people with disabilities to travel for free at any time e.g. Reigate and Banstead, Luton, Greater Manchester and Suffolk.
• We would also like to point out that people who are visually impaired are allowed to use their bus passes at any time within West Yorkshire and I would like this to be available to all people with a disability.
• We have been writing to M.P’s and the Government to highlight our campaign.
The Metro have told us that they 'have the discretion to make the cut off time earlier or to fund free travel all the time', but due to the extra expense they are not currently willing to change the scheme- Dave Pearson West Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive 17/07/09.
THE WHEELS ON THE BUS GO ROUND AND ROUND, ONLY AFTER HALF PAST 9- FOR SOME!!!
