Parliament Workbench

Petition · PE01741 · Session 5

Human rights, citizenship and legal protection for people with lifelong learning disabilities

Closed Submitted 1 Aug 2019 People & Communities
Signatures
0
287 online signatures with a country
Comments
27
Considered
2 meetings
in the Official Report

What it asks

Calling on the Scottish Parliament to urge the Scottish Government to introduce a new law addressing the needs and rights of people with lifelong learning disabilities in Scotland.

What the petitioner did first

We have discussed the need for reform with Michael Mathieson MSP, former Minister for Community Health and Maureen Watt MSP, former Minister for Mental Health. We have also made submissions to the consultation on the Adults with Incapacity Act and the Review of the Mental Health Act.
In addition, we have raised the need for a new law in our 2011 Citizens Grand Jury recommendations and shared these with former Cabinet Secretary for Health, Shona Robison MSP and the Scottish Government.
We have also raised the issue during consultation about the Keys to Life Implementation Framework.

Where it was considered

Official Report
  1. 19 Sep 2019
    Public Petitions Committee
    New Petitions
    1 mention
  2. 19 Mar 2020
    Public Petitions Committee
    Continued Petitions
    1 mention

Signatures by country

287 online signatures
  1. Scotland218 76%
  2. United Kingdom55 19.2%
  3. France7 2.4%
  4. England3 1%
  5. Mauritius1 0.3%
  6. Wales1 0.3%
  7. Bhutan1 0.3%
  8. United States1 0.3%

Comments

27 comments, oldest first
  1. Claire Mooney 1 Aug 2019
    I support this 100% as my own family members' story is proof of rights being ignored.
  2. Sue Kelly 6 Aug 2019
    The action called for in this petition is long overdue. The perverse consequences for people with life long learning disabilities of current legislation and practice cannot be allowed to continue a moment longer. Scotland should be leading the way in protecting the human rights of all, with no exception.
  3. Bill Scott 6 Aug 2019
    Strongly support this call for new laws to protect the rights of learning disabled people.
  4. Stephen Oliver 6 Aug 2019
    An important issue that needs to bring learning disabilities into the modern age and accept it as a natural occurrence. People with learning disabilities are important members of our community and should not be 'hidden' or treated as an embarrassment.
  5. Caroline Crozier 6 Aug 2019
    Yes disabled people should have the same rights as able bodied people.
  6. Mary ramsay 6 Aug 2019
    People with learning difficulties deserve support and help
  7. Jackie Maceira 6 Aug 2019
    This has to happen
  8. Ian Hood 6 Aug 2019
    New legislation is very much needed and I would urge everyone to sign this petition. I think that even with new legislation there will still be much that needs to be done to ensure that people with learning disabilities enjoy the same rights as everyone else. But nonethelss the Scottish Government should do all it can, including new legisation to support this.
  9. Dr Phillip Neville 7 Aug 2019
    People with learning disabilities may have the same rights and aspirations as others but opportunity is sadly lacking. Discrimination is still very evident.
  10. Ann Marie Reid 7 Aug 2019
    I believe we are unique able bodied so why not treat us as an equal as we can do just about anything we put our minds to. I think if they lived a life in our shoes they would know how hard it is to be excepted in society. Learning disabilities or mental health conditions.
  11. Mandy law 8 Aug 2019
    Not right this
  12. Eleanor Ferguson 8 Aug 2019
    A member of my family has a learning disability so I am interested in this petition
  13. JB McGuire 11 Aug 2019
    Knowing the vital work being done daily by People First Scotland , I fully support this petition to improve the experience of people with learning disability and bring it in line with that enjoyed by other citiizens in Scotland. Equality of human rights and access to standards and treatment for people with learning disabilties
    - in every aspect of their lives
    - should be a given entitlement in any democracy and the right change in legislation would help improve this and change the public attitutde, enhancing the life environment for anyone with learning disability. Such a change would also raise the bar in the approach by professionals and their expectations of this vulnerable section of the population.
  14. Claire Hamilton Russell 13 Aug 2019
    Disabled rights are human rights
  15. Wilma McKenzie 13 Aug 2019
    I'm sick of people with special needs being treated so badly by the Government it's absolutely disgraceful.
  16. Edward Fowler 17 Aug 2019
    People with learning disabilities are ignored. Their human rights are abused and they are not listened to. They are not given legal advice or access to a solicitor.
  17. Maureen Price 19 Aug 2019
    I worked for 26 years in a school for young people with learning difficulties, from 5-17 years, and I realised that when they left school or college there was very little support for them. I spent a week going around firms that may offer suitable employment, but in most cases the work was automated. The lack of provision affects not only the young person but their families too. All through school families and schools and other groups working with the young people have to fight for what should be their right.
  18. Margaret Mackenzie 20 Aug 2019
    Signing on behalf of people with complex combined needs
  19. Russell Easton 20 Aug 2019
    Well done keith this is a good piece of work id like to be more involved in this
  20. Nell Whitelaw 20 Aug 2019
    Long term disabilities should be recognised.
  21. Alka nanda 20 Aug 2019
    I support this petition
  22. Catherine kelly 21 Aug 2019
    I believe that Scotland should support people with additional learning needs
  23. Andrew Findlay 21 Aug 2019
    A long overdue move of focus in the way people with learning disabilities are treated by the state.
  24. James Mclay 21 Aug 2019
    People with Life Long Learning disabilities require their human rights and services to be protected.
  25. Linda Jacomb 22 Aug 2019
    A family member has struggled with ADHD all of their life. For them this manifests in low self esteem, lack of confidence, poor planning capabilities, poor communication skills with new or unknown people. The upside however is attention to detail, super fast brain, amazing retention for facts etc. Unfortunately this does not help them if employers don't see the potential
    - they then feel a failure which feeds their anxiety and confidence. They also do not receive the support they are entitled to and need from the Job Centre due to their inability to negotiate online forms and job applications due to IT failure and slow connections that drop out rather than their ability. This makes complying with Job Centre requirements almost impossible when applying for Universal Credit and as a result they have received many sanctions where support should have been provided.
  26. David Scott 24 Aug 2019
    I Agree with this just because People with LD they should be treated as equally and long stay hospitals should be closed down for people with LD full stop.
  27. James Stark 26 Aug 2019
    I am 100% behind this petition