CMG and Regard, a leading provider of support for people with learning disabilities and associated complex needs, is proudly supporting self-advocacy group – Campaign 4 Change – which is led by 11 of the people it supports.
Campaign 4 Change (C4C) is made up of members who passionately campaign on issues that affect people with learning disabilities and autism, both on a local and national scale.
The Group, led by Mary, David, Darren, Mark, Chris, Samir, Frankie, Vicky, Alex, Leon and Stephen are fronting a joint campaign called #MindYourLanguage. This pioneering campaign is aimed at tackling the inappropriate and derogatory language which is sometimes used by care and health professionals, when speaking to or about people with learning disabilities and/or autism that they support
C4C strongly believes that the language and words that people use are important in shaping people’s attitudes and, in turn, the negative use of language can have a detrimental impact, particularly for people who may already be feeling vulnerable or isolated. Additionally, the choice of negative words can also inadvertently affect the quality of support that a person receives, even being directed at them by a professional. CMG and Regard shares this vision, in keeping with the organisations core values.
The Group launched its campaign at CMG’s People’s Conference and held a workshop at the (un)Ordinary Conference, where all speakers were people with learning disabilities.
Alongside the joint #MindYourLanguage campaign, every member of C4C also campaigns on their own individual issues that they feel passionately about. This covers everything from people campaigning for the instalment of a pedestrian crossing on a busy local road which regularly affects people with disabilities, school children and elderly people, and tackling hate crimes towards people with learning disabilities by producing a short film to raise awareness, right through to spreading positive messages about the importance of staying active and healthy for good physical and mental wellbeing, and campaigning to raise awareness of issues faced by transgender people with learning disabilities.
Bolstering its societal impact nationally, C4C is also involved in other national campaigns and groups, such as Supported Loving Network, the Solve Sleep-ins Alliance and Ideas Collective, amongst other social action groups.
Peter Kinsey, Chief Executive of CMG and Regard, said:
“We are incredibly proud of the hugely important work being undertaken by the C4C group. Each member is going above and beyond to ensure that the world around them is a better, safer and more tolerant place, not just for the sake of themselves but for others around them too.We have all been inspired by their excellent work and they are a true credit to CMG and Regard and the strong values and ethos that we collectively uphold.”
