History Master doc

How it all began
Did you
know?
Into the
The founder members were:
Dr & Mrs Samuel Curran
Mr & Mrs James Henderson
Mr & Mrs George Maugham
Mr & Mrs Harold Shapter
"I joined ENABLE in
1968, six weeks after our
daughter was born. The
branch structure made
you feel that you weren't
alone. We were totally
ignorant of our rights.
Fortunately, we were
surrounded by experts in
ENABLE - all of them
voluntary members."
ENABLE has changed its
name 4 times in the last 50
years.
1954 Scottish Association of
Parents of Handicapped
Children
earning Disability
has come a long
way in the past 50
years. Much of the progress
has been due to ENABLE.
50 years ago a parent of a
child with a learning
disability was made to feel
ashamed. Learning disability
was a real stigma. Some parents hid
themselves and their child away. There
were few services and parents were often
left to cope on their own.
L
Mr & Mrs Duncan McIntosh
Duncan McIntosh, Catherine Shapter, Samuel
Curran, May Birss, Jim Henderson, 1990
Into this void came ENABLE.
Day Care Centre, Airdrie Branch, 1973
Voluntary day centre, Kincardineshire Branch, 1970
1961 Scottish Society for
Mentally Handicapped
Children
Founder member, Jim Henderson, explained
how it all started: "The seed was planted
while I was watching a TV broadcast in 1953.
A mother was being interviewed concerning
the problem of bring up her handicapped
child. It was typical of the outlook at that
time that, during the entire broadcast, the
mother's name was in shadow and her name
was never divulged. At the end, the address of
the National Association in London appeared.
I applied for membership and suggested that
a branch be formed in Scotland. At the time,
our daughter was 6 years, with no prospect of
education or training in sight. The Secretary
was most helpful but could hold no hope of
forming a Scottish branch in the immediate
future. He did, however, send me a list of
15 Scottish members. I determined to
1973 Scottish Society for the
Mentally Handicapped
1993 - ENABLE
"ENABLE encouraged us
to raise our expectations
for our son."
Cutting the 21st birthday cake, Duchess of
Kent & Chairperson Jack Crombie, 1975
1954
■ 1954 - 28 February 1954, four parents
get together. April 1954, public meeting,
Glasgow, SAPHC set up. September 1954,
local group starts up, Blairgowrie.
55
■ 1955 - Broomhill Centre opens, Glasgow.
Branches in Lanarkshire, Dumfries & Galloway .
Blairgowrie group sets up occupational centre for
children. Junior Occupational Centre, Dumfries.
light
contact four who were living in the Glasgow
area. My first contact was Mrs Catherine
Shapter who had already been thinking and
working along the same lines as myself."
So in February 1954, four sets of parents
met to discuss setting up a Scottish
organisation to help parents like themselves
and to get better services for their children.
Several meetings later, they published a
notice in the local paper inviting anyone
to attend a public meeting in Glasgow
Corporation Education Offices on the
9th April 1954. Over 300 people turned
up and an organisation was born Scottish Association of Parents
of Handicapped Children.
K
aren Bain is a busy mum with a
full-time job and 3 children but still
finds time to be involved in ENABLE.
"It's a great source of advice
and support and has meant I've
been able to achieve appropriate
services for my son. I don't feel
so alone. Plus, I feel I'm helping
shape ENABLE's priorities today
and for the future."
From the start, the organisation relied on
mutual help and voluntary effort.
Fundraising was a key activity. Branches
and local groups began to sprout.
The first branch opened in Blairgowrie
in September 1954. Within 10 years, there
were 40 branches and 4000 members.
A
ndrew Doyle is the chairperson of
national ACE and active in his local
branch. He speaks up for people
with learning disabilities on a
number of different groups.
"We made a point of never turning down an
offer of help. There was a job for everyone whether it was serving on the Executive
Council or serving tea at a social evening."
"Being part of ENABLE gives
you a stronger voice and
makes you feel more involved.
It's given me more confidence
and the chance to help others."
Early priorities were to keep parents in
touch with each other, to discuss problems
and share ideas, to raise awareness amongst
parents, the public and government bodies
and to bring learning disability into the light.
60
■ 1956 - Branches & groups in Aberdeen,
Edinburgh, Airdrie. Junior Occupational
Centres, Airdrie, Newton Stewart,
Castle Douglas
■ 1960 Bought an office in
Glasgow and
appointed first staff.
■ 1964 40 local branches and a
membership of 4000.
1964
Getting a break
Did you
know?
From
castles to
Between 1958 and
1983, the Stewart
Home provided
a service to 5475
families.
The first thing tackled was practical
support.
£400 in 1956 is
worth £6050 today,
£7000 now equals
£106,000.
Between 1956-1986,
the Minerva Club
of Glasgow donated
nearly £20,000 from
its operatic
productions to
ENABLE’s
respite homes.
In the 1950s, only
20% of married women
worked.
In 2003, 55% of
women with children
aged under 5 work.
I
Craigrownie Castle / Stewart Home
Viewpark Home Kitchens
Over 1,600 adults
with learning
disabilities in
Scotland get some
form of community
short break during a
typical week.
On holiday at the Stewart Home
"Getting a break makes all
the difference and it's great
knowing my daughter is
having fun at the same
time."
ENABLE believes
family carers should
be entitled to 4 weeks
respite each year, taken
in a way that best suits
them and their child.
n 1954, parents had very little support
and were left to care for children with
severe disabilities at home - as those
children had no entitlement to go to school.
Less than a year later, ENABLE pioneered
and launched one of the first day services
for children. Based at the home of
Mrs Margaret Barton in Broomhill Drive,
Glasgow, it gave some parents a break from
caring all day every day for their children.
Twenty children attended for part of the
week each. Following its success, Glasgow
Corporation opened a similar
centre 18 months
later.
But getting a break
for a few hours a
week isn't always
enough. More was
needed. When the
organisation was
offered Craigrownie
Castle near Cove by
Miss Ella Stewart in
1956, it leapt at the chance to set up its
own respite holiday home - despite having
only £400 in the bank. An organising
committee was set up led by member
Arthur Roddick. After 2 years of
backbreaking work - much of it carried
out by members in their spare time - the
Stewart Home opened in June 1958.
Tea time at the Stewart Home
1954
66
■ 1954 - ENABLE set up (SAPHC) ■1958 - Stewart Home opens, Cove
■1955 - Broomhill day centre for children opens
■1956 - offered Craigrownie Castle, Cove
communities
Minerva Club
programme
It was Scotland's first short-stay home for
children with learning disabilities and cost
more than £7000 to convert and equip.
Funds were raised through any means
possible. 'Bawbee boxes' were placed in
offices and factories, a 'linen chest' took
donations of bedding, and various amateur
drama productions gifted their proceeds.
The Stewart Home offered holidays to
children up to the age of 13 and later
expanded to include holidays for teenage
and adult women with learning disabilities.
Arthur Roddick, Ken & Tom Fortune taking a break from scraping walls (1956/7)
In 1966, a
second home,Viewpark, was
opened in Alyth, Perthshire,
offering holidays to males
over 13 years old.
Both homes closed in the
1980s. Demand fell for this
type of respite and holiday
service as other services and
holiday facilities increased over the years.
Today ENABLE has a successful
family-based short breaks service in Fife Lend a Hand. Our Natural Breaks service
offers flexible one-to-one support to
enable individuals to do the things they
want to do in their leisure time at the
same time as giving parents a break.
84
hristopher, aged
nine, lives in Fife
with his mum
and stepdad, Mandy and
Scott McDiarmid.
Thanks to Lend-a Hand,
Mandy and Scott were
put in touch with volunteers Peter and
Hilary, who agreed to look after Christopher
one day per month. Now the arrangement is
more flexible and Christopher has even slept
overnight at their home.
C
"Christopher loves the time he spends with Peter
and Hilary. They take him out and plan
surprises for him" said Mandy. "And they've
become good friends to us. It's great to have
peace of mind knowing that Christopher is
happy and so well cared for.This is ideal for us."
■2001 ■1960 - Mental Health (Scotland) Act ■1983 - Stewart Home closes
Natural Breaks
■1985 - Lend a Hand set up
■1966 - Viewpark Home opens, Alyth
service opens
■1989 - Viewpark Home closes
■1968 - Social Work (Scotland) Act
■1995 - Respite facility, Cumbernauld Branch
2001
Equality for all
Did you
know?
ENABLE funded
research to tackle
metabolic disorders.
All children in Scotland
now receive the Guthrie
heel prick test shortly
after birth.
"Parents set up ENABLE
as a support for themselves.
It concentrated on basic
services but some members
soon realised that they needed
to tackle things in other ways
through legislation."
Parent, 1960s.
ENABLE fought to
get the right to
education in school for
all children. It took
20 years. It is now
official policy that
all children should be
educated and included
in their local schools
as far as possible.
A
voice for
Greenock Branch day centre, 1964
Kincardineshire Branch day centre, 1971
Early learning matters
"My daughter was one
of the first pupils with Down
syndrome to attend a special
school. These schools were
mainly for pupils with physical
disabilities. She was given
a place at a junior
occupational centre but
we refused to send her
and lobbied the education
authority and health board till
she got into the special school."
Parent, 1970s
ENABLE believes that
children with learning
disabilities should be
treated with dignity and
respect and have access
to education that will
help each child maximise
his or her potential.
E
NABLE fights for the rights of all
children and adults with learning
disabilities to equality and an ordinary
life. In the early days this meant finding out
about the causes of learning disability and
fighting for access to education.
Practical research
Learning disabilities can be caused after birth
because the body cannot cope with certain
chemicals in food. Early diagnosis is essential
to prevent this. Several ENABLE branches
gave funding in the early 1960s to Stobhill
hospital, Glasgow, to research phenylketonuria
(PKU) and establish a screening programme.
Now all children in Scotland are tested at
birth and their diet can be controlled if
necessary. Later, in 1981, ENABLE funded test
equipment for neonatal hypothyroidism another condition that can lead to learning
disability if not treated.
Education for all
Meanwhile a key concern was that children
with the most profound disabilities received
no services at all and many children had to
attend 'junior occupational centres' rather
than school.
Getting to grips with writing
ENABLE challenged the thinking that these
children could not learn. Following the
example of the Broomhill centre in Glasgow,
local branches set up day centres for
children in order to give them education
and training in basic skills. Many of these
were in local church or community halls
and relied on voluntary help.
1954
■ 1954 - ENABLE founded (SAPHC)
■ 1955 - First voluntary day centres for
children with complex disabilities set up
75
■ 1975 - Education
(Mentally Handicapped
Children) (Scotland) Act
children
Along with other parent societies and
voluntary organisations, ENABLE
campaigned for all children to have the
right to go to school. Finally legislation
was passed in Scotland in 1975. It was
now the duty of every local authority to
provide education to all children irrespective
of their disabilities. From now on, no
child was regarded as 'ineducable'. Local
authorities took over responsibility for the
services pioneered by ENABLE branches.
Chairperson Stanley Strachan hands over funds
for equipment at Stobhill Hospital, 1981
"Scotland's future is talking
so why don't you take the
time to listen".
The government set up an advisory
committee, which produced the ‘Warnock
Report' in 1978. This led to new education
laws and the special educational needs
recording system as we know it today the Record of Needs.
E
NABLE is pioneering self advocacy
work with children with learning
disabilities. Local groups in Fife,
Highlands and Perthshire are bringing
together children from special and
mainstream schools to explore ideas and
the things that matter to them like school,
friendship, and social activities. A National
Young Person's Self Advocacy Group was
formed in 2003 and recently presented its
views to First Minister, Jack McConnell.
Children with learning disabilities are
beginning to find their voice.
In the last few years, education has been
under the spotlight again. Now the policy
is to educate every child as far as possible in
local schools alongside their neighbours and
friends. New laws are being drafted to fit
children's needs in the 21st century. Once
again, ENABLE has lobbied and given
evidence to the politicians and civil servants
who are shaping these laws. But it's not just
parents' voices that are important. In recent
years, ENABLE has developed self advocacy
work with children with learning disabilities
so they can have their say. Nowadays, there
is great emphasis on children's rights in
general. ENABLE makes sure that children
with learning disabilities are included and
listened to.
"Now we get treated better
by others as they've realised
we are all equal".
National Young People's Self Advocacy Group, 2003
1999
■ 1980 - Education (Scotland) Act
■ 2003 - ENABLE National Young People's Self Advocacy Group
■ 1999 - ENABLE Children's Committee formed
2004
■ 2004 - Education (Additional Support for
Learning) (Scotland) Act
A home of our own
Did you
know...
Catching
In 1971, 7,400 people
with learning disabilities
lived in hospital. 43% of
long-stay patients were
in wards of more than
50 beds.
In 1972 the Scottish
Home & Health
Department estimated
that 2,200 hostel places
were needed for adults
with learning disabilities.
There were 59 places
available.
"We can never get
away from the fear
of what will happen
to our son if we are
no longer able to look
after him. What is the
point in resisting the
pressure to put him in
hospital because we
know it is better for
him at home if, in the
end, that is where he
will end up?"
Parent, 1970
W
hen ENABLE began, there
was little planning for
residential services in the
community. The choice was institutional
care or remaining in the family home.
Prestwick hostel, 1972
Airdrie hostel, 1975
In 1965, the Scottish Home & Health
Department had urged Local Authorities to
provide hostel places for adults with learning
disabilities. However, local authorities were
slow to act.This was an issue that vexed
many parents.They wanted to see their
sons and daughters settled and secure in
the local community.
Winchester House Elgin, 1972
In 2002, there were 899
people left in hospital.
The government plans
to close all Scottish
long-stay hospitals for
adults with learning
disabilities by 2005.
Today 4195 adults with
learning disabilities in
Scotland live in their
own tenancies with
support.
ENABLE believes people
should be able to live in the
community in a home of
their choice.
By 1970, there were 22 long-stay hospitals
in Scotland housing over 7,000 children
and adults with learning disabilities.
The same year, a government report stated:
"The primary…need of many…patients…is
appropriate education and training from an
early age. For the purpose of receiving this
education... hostel accommodation in the
community would be perfectly suitable."
There is always something to be done
Hostel plan
ENABLE seized the initiative and
developed a 'hostel plan'. From 1968,
it offered selected local authorities
interest-free loans of £10,000 - or about
50% of the capital costs. "It was a sprat to
catch a mackerel" said one member. Four
local authorities were quickly hooked and
plans for building began in Elgin, Ayrshire,
West Lothian and Airdrie. Other local
authorities began to follow. Within 3 years,
14 hostels were nearing completion or in
the pipeline. Glasgow Branch also opened
1968
■ 1968 - ENABLE's 'hostel plan'
■ 1971 - Balshagray House, Glasgow
76
■ 1972-73 - Hostels in
Prestwick, Elgin, Kilwinning,
Caithness, Greenock, Renfrew
Airdrie, West Lothian
6
w,
mackerels
an independent hostel, Balshagray House.
Key Housing
By the mid-1970s, housing for adults with
learning disabilities had become ENABLE's
main priority. Anxious to keep up the
momentum, it applied to the Housing
Corporation for funding to set up a specialist
housing association. Key Housing Association
(now an independent organisation) opened
its first house in Glasgow, in 1982.
Family - sized homes
The housing options for people able
to live independent or semi-independent
lives had increased significantly - but adults
with profound disabilities still faced the
traditional choice of institutional or parental
care. Again, ENABLE responded. SSMH
Homes (now part of ENABLE Scotland)
was set up in 1987 to provide family-sized
homes for adults with complex needs.
Community living
Today, hospitals are being emptied and
closed. More adults with learning disabilities
are living in their local communities as
tenants or home-owners - with staff
support if required. They might live with
a friend, a partner or on their own - just
like anyone else. ENABLE Scotland now
provides a range of supported
accommodation or support to people
in their own homes - from Orkney to
Ayrshire and still growing.
B
rian is a great example of how the
lives of people with learning
disabilities have changed over the
years. In 1954, as an 8 year-old boy, Brian
went into Birkwood hospital. He spent 47
years of his life there before moving out into
a house of his own, supported by ENABLE.
Now he attends college two days a week to
learn carpentry and crafts and is thinking
about learning to read.
"I like being in my
own house - it's
good. I like cooking
my tea and I've just
done some
decorating. Now
that I have my own
house I can go out
whenever I like."
But we’re not complacent. There are still
an awful lot of mackerels to be caught.
■ 1978 Key Housing
92
■ 1983 - Residential housing, Cumbernauld Branch
■ 1986 - Rymonth Housing, St Andrews Branch
■ 1987 - SSMH Homes
■ 2004 - Home at last report
2004
■ 2005 - long-stay
hospitals due to close
Day services and employment
Did you
know?
In 1969 there were 2,250
places in 67 centres. 12
centres (355 places)
were run by voluntary
bodies.
"Is it unrealistic to imagine
that the hostel resident might
graduate to living with others,
unsupervised, in 'digs', earning
his living in open
employment?"
ENABLE conference, 1971
More
than a
Glasgow branch work centre, date unknown
P
Carisbrooke, 1993
65% of people with
learning disabilities
would like a paid job
(1996).
"I'm looking for a job
working in a shop, like a
fruit shop or a book shop.
That would be a good job."
Out in the community, 2002
ENABLE believes people
with learning disabilities
should be valued as active
members of their
community and have
access to training, local
services and paid jobs.
In 1957, branches had added Senior
Occupational Centres to the list of services
they ran. The first opened in Airdrie and
Hamilton. By 1964, there were 10 centres
run by ENABLE branches. ENABLE
members lobbied hard over day services
in the 1960 Mental Health (Scotland) Act
and were delighted when the right to
transport to day services was won.
Adults with profound disabilities
In 1977, ENABLE gained urban-aid funding
to set up Levern and Easterhill day centres
in Glasgow - specifically catering for those
with complex needs.The lessons learned
from these pioneer services were
published in Those without, in 1981.
In 2000, day care cost
local authorities about
£53million per year.
93% of people in day
services did not have
paid work.
"I went to the job centre first
who put me in touch with
ENABLE. This is the best
work I've done.The best thing
is having more money."
eople with learning disabilities
"have potential far beyond our
dreams" said ENABLE when looking
to the future in 1971. But ENABLE didn't
just dream. It lobbied. It demanded. And
when authorities were slow to act, it set
up services to show what was possible.
Woodhall, 1999
Riding lessons, 1985
Carisbrooke centre was set up by ENABLE
in 1985 for adults with complex disabilities
in Airdrie. It now offers training within the
centre plus a flexible, community-based
alternative service. Pushing for improvements
to day services has been a 50-year campaign
but slowly people are beginning to have
a choice and a range of options out in
the community with everyone else and
ENABLE can offer flexible day opportunities
in most parts of Scotland.
1957-59
■ 1957-59 - Senior
Occupation Centres,
Airdrie, Hamilton,
Leven, Aberdeen
60
■ 1960 - Mental Health (Scotland) Act
■ 1960 - Senior Occupation Centres, Dumfries,
Blairgowrie, Glasgow Branch work centre
daydream
The chance to work
Enabling people to gain employment was
an aim from the first. In 1960, Glasgow
Branch opened a work centre that is still
going strong. Edinburgh Branch started the
productive Woodhall Horticultural Nursery
in 1967. The entrepreneurial spirit
continues today with an award-winning
project, Wood Recyclability, set up by
branches in Grampian.
Getting down to work thanks to ENABLE
Ordinary jobs
Since the 1980s, the drive has been to get
people into ordinary jobs. We work with
the person to find out what they want to
do and can link into government
programmes, local enterprise companies
and the job centre. Often we simply
approach employers on behalf of someone
who wants a job in their industry.
Now ENABLE is the biggest voluntary
sector provider in Scotland of supported
employment for people with learning
disabilities and has led the way in its
development. All of our projects include
pathways to real jobs.
J
osie loves fashions and clothes so a job as
a sales assistant in a department store is
perfect for her. When Josie was leaving
school she wasn't sure where she was
going to work. She was put in touch with
the LINK project, run by ENABLE's
supported employment service in Glasgow,
which help school leavers bridge the gap
between school and work. Now Josie is in
seventh heaven.
"I really like my job and it's close to home so I
can walk to work. ENABLE have been good at
sorting out any problems, like with my benefits.
The support has been great."
With the publication of Working for a
change? by the Scottish Executive in 2004,
employment is finally on the agenda. The
target is to get 50% of adults with learning
disabilities into paid employment by 2009.
ENABLE has always known people have
potential. Our challenge is to ensure jobs
are no longer just a dream.
■ 1967 - Woodhall
Horticultural Nursery,
Edinburgh Branch
85
■ 1977 - Levern & Easterhill centres, Glasgow
■ 1985 - Carisbrooke centre, Airdrie
■ 2000 - The same as you?
report
■ 2004 - Working
for a change?
report
2004
The social whirl
Did you
know?
"The holiday camps
provide a consistent
network of social
relationships which
mean a tremendous
amount to the people
who come on holiday
with us."
Holiday organiser,
1991
"I started to play 10-pin
bowling in 1993 and I
enjoy doing this. I had
not played sports much
before. I play in the
ENABLE league. I like
playing and enjoy
meeting friends and
making new ones."
"I am very excited
about my holiday
this year. I am going
to London. This will
be the first time I will
have been in an
aeroplane."
"The biggest difference
a job has made is that
now I can have a social
life. It means I can go
out more with my friends
even if it's just for a coffee
or to the cinema."
ENABLE believes
children and adults
with learning disabilities
should be able to enjoy
a varied social life and
take part in leisure
interests with friends.
Always time
P
eople need fun not just services.
From the earliest days, branches
provided opportunities for social
activities, laughter and friendship for both
parents and their sons and daughters.
Glasgow branch social club, 1972
Helensburgh Branch swimming gala, 1973
The vast majority of branches have run
social clubs for many years. People can
play indoor games like pool, table tennis,
or board games or just get together for a
chat. For many adults, the 'club night' is the
highlight of their week - a chance to relax
with friends. Edinburgh Branch lays claim
to the first swimming club in 1963 but
this activity was quickly adopted by other
branches too.
Holiday highlights
Youth hostelling holiday
Holidaymakers, Helensburgh Branch c.1979
Holidaymakers, Montrose Branch, 1979
Branch activities soon included summer
outings and taking small groups away on
holiday. In 1979, during the Year of the
Child, branch holidays were boosted by the
Women’s Royal Voluntary Service (WRVS)
when it offered to assist in running holiday
camps for children. It already had experience
helping Helensburgh Branch with a
successful camp at Killearn. In all, 11 WRVS
camps were run that year, expanding the
lives of over 100 children.The camps
continued for many years under the guiding
influence of Jean Jahoda of Helensburgh
Branch. Today, branch members still enjoy
planning trips and going on holiday together.
Branches also wanted to give families the
chance to take a holiday and started
New caravan for Rutherglen Branch
1959
■ 1959 onwards - Branch social clubs
■ 1963 - Swimming club, Edinburgh Branch
72
■ 1964 - First holiday caravan, Dundee Branch
■ 1972 - First Killearn camp, Helensburgh Branch
■ 1979 Expansion of
holiday camps
with WRVS
for friends
acquiring and renting out holiday caravans
at a reasonable cost. By 1975, 14 branches
were providing this facility. Mid Argyll
Branch opened the Kate McGlynn holiday
chalet near Kilmartin, in 1980.
In the 1990s ENABLE was able to set up
a Holiday Bureau to help groups and
individuals go on holiday. For several years,
it organised breaks at home and abroad
until it closed due to lack of funding.
ENABLE's Natural Breaks service now helps
people to take part in local pursuits and also
to have weekend and longer breaks away.
Orienteering, 1993
Stranraer branch playscheme, 1988
Kate McGlynn Holiday Home, Mid Argyll branch, 1980
Finding friends
Being part of ENABLE has brought
friendship to many people over the years.
But there are many children and adults with
learning disabilities who lead lonely, isolated
lives. Some simply find it difficult to make
friends or join in local activities. Others may
find themselves surrounded by paid staff but
little opportunity to form ordinary
relationships.
In its 50th year, ENABLE has started
an appeal to fund a friendship project.
ENABLElink will bring children or adults
with learning disabilities into contact with
others and help to form connections that
might lead to firm friendships. The first
ENABLElink service has started in Dumfries
and Galloway and is already making
a difference.
1980
■ 1980 - Kate McGlynn Holiday Home
■ 1991 - ENABLE Holiday Bureau opens
L
ouise Boustead
has just moved
into a new
community flat in Annan.
It's been an exciting time
for her and she's been
surrounded by cards
from well-wishers. Louise is very popular
and has lots of interests but she still finds
herself on her own a lot of the time.
ENABLElink recently set up a friendship for
Louise with Esther, someone she used to do
voluntary work with. They have agreed to
spend time together on Sunday afternoons.
"I think ENABLElink is a great idea. People do
need help to make friends and to get out and
do things. Esther and I like going to visit castles
and having coffee together."
■ 2001 - Natural Breaks
■ 2002 - Redburn after
school care & leisure scheme (RASCALS)
■ 1998 - ENABLE Holiday Bureau closes
■ 2000 - Kilpatrick Play After Learning (PALS)
2004
■ 2004 - ENABLElink
A voice and a choice
Did you
know?
ENABLE has 500
national members and
another 4000 members
in 72 local branches
and groups.
About 5000 people each
year are supported in a
range of ways by ENABLE.
This includes:
• advocacy
• after-school care
• day services and
alternatives
• employment support
• family-based short
breaks
• information
• legal advice
• leisure activities support
• local area co-ordination
• playschemes
• supported living
• transition from school
Looking
The same as
you? 2000
50 years of achievement but so much
more to do!
Campaigns
By campaigning, sometimes on our own,
often with others, ENABLE has made a
difference. For instance we:
• fought for education for all in the 60s
and 70s
• helped Tom Clarke MP to shape the
ideas in the Disabled Person's
(Services, Consultation and
Representation) Act 1986 - the
forerunner of much of today's disability
and community care legislation
Supporting people’s rights
• campaigned to make it easier to act on
behalf of adults who lack capacity.The
Adults with Incapacity (Scotland) Act
2000 was one of the first laws passed
by the Scottish Parliament.
All of our services
focus on what
individuals want and
seek to help them
achieve that. We
support children and
adults with any kind
of learning disability
and at any stage of
their lives.
ENABLE young people put rights into action
"My hope for the future
is that society becomes
more inclusive and people
with learning disabilities
become invisible again - but
this time for all the right
reasons."
ENABLE believes that
community living isn't
enough. We are striving
for real community
participation.
Getting directions at
the station
Now a parliament in Scotland means
greater opportunities to bring about
changes to law and policy. In 2004 we are
giving evidence regarding additional support
for learning and vulnerable witnesses and
assisting our branches and local members
to make a difference through community
planning.
Self -Advocacy
From the start ENABLE spoke up for
people with learning disabilities but one of
our biggest achievements has been enabling
them to speak for themselves. ENABLE's
1975
95
■ 1995 - Disability Discrimination
■ 1990 - NHS & Community Act Children (Scotland) Act
■ 2000 - The same as you? report
Care Act
Adults with Incapacity (Scotland) Act
■ 1993 - ACE formed
■ 1986 - 'Tom Clarke' Act
Over 300 adults with learning disabilities
and carers in a public debate in the
Scottish Parliament, March 2003.
forward
advisory committee of adults with learning
disabilities (ACE) was formed in 1993 and
has led campaigns and projects on
• bullying
• accessible public transport
• adult relationships and sex education
• and voter participation.
Today ENABLE is supporting children and
young people to find their voice too - they
are already seeking a revolution in their
social and recreational opportunities.
Partnership
We are proud to have partners to help us
in our quests and there are many more
now than in 1954! We feel government is
now really trying to change things and we
were delighted to work with the Scottish
Executive to produce a blueprint for
learning disability services over the next 10
years - The same as you? - in 2000. We are
now working with the Executive and others
to make sure that its recommendations
really happen. One of these was for a new
Scottish centre for learning disability and
ENABLE was delighted to win the bid to
set this up in partnership with 12 other
agencies.The Scottish Consortium for
Learning Disability (SCLD) is now taking a
lead in training, research and developing the
policy of The same as you?, with people
with learning disabilities and carers at the
heart of everything that they do.
2000
Research
ENABLE endowed a Chair in Learning
Disability at St Andrews University in 1986
to encourage practical research. Nowadays
there is a wealth of Scottish research into
learning disability. Branches in Grampian
assisted the White Top Research Unit,
University of Dundee, to investigate the
needs of older people and their carers
in 1995 and ENABLE works with other
academic centres and, of course, SCLD.
A visible life
When ENABLE's founder members held
that first public meeting in April 1954, they
dreamt of an ordinary life for their sons and
daughters in which they got an education,
a job, a house and a welcome from the
community. And they were determined to
make this happen.
At that time, children and adults with
learning disabilities were invisible. Now they
are out in the world. ENABLE has grown
into a strong organisation offering a range
of progressive services but still led by its
members. It works in partnership with
others. But most of all, it is building a
confident army of children and adults able
to speak on their own behalf and to
advocate for others too.
We look forward to a day when people are
proud to be visible as people with learning
disabilities really contributing to the life of
the community - indeed, helping others.
■ 2001 - Scottish Consortium for Learning Disability
■ 2003 - ENABLE National Young People's Self Advocacy Group
■ 2004 - Education (Additional Support for Learning)
(Scotland) Act Vulnerable Witnesses (Scotland) Act
■ 2010 - The same as you?
fully implemented
2010
This booklet can give only a glimpse into the work of
ENABLE over the last 50 years. There are many
unsung champions who have worked and battled to
achieve a fairer life for children and adults with
learning disabilities. It is impossible to name them all
or tell the whole story here. For 50 years, through
members working together locally and beyond,
ENABLE has been able to offer shared understanding,
practical support, vision and hope.
ENABLE
6th Floor
7 Buchanan Street
Glasgow
G1 3HL
0141 226 4541
www.enable.org.uk
Thanks to everyone who contributed photographs,
memories and quotes.
Available in alternative formats.
ENABLE is recognised as a Scottish charity No. SC009024.