crown-of-weeds asked: Just so you know, the post linking to Mencap is extremely problematic. Families are not the voices of people with disabilities--the people with disabilities are. We should be hearing what the individuals who were abused have to say, not how it affected their families. This is a pervasive problem in the learning/developmental/intellectual disabilities community, which you probably didn't know about, but you need to be aware for the future. We can speak for our selves.

[Trigger Warning: Discussion of abuse]

Thanks for flagging this up with me. I’m sorry if I’ve caused upset by posting it and I totally see where you’re coming from. I fucked up and will be more discerning in the future. Having only just read the report in full myself now I am disappointed to see the accounts of  James, Chrissy, Joe, Emmanuel and Victoria being told by their parents. However, I don’t know the particulars of their trauma, and perhaps talking about their experiences is triggering or upsetting for them - I’d say that’s probably the only excuse for them not being consulted personally or empowered to have their words published in the report with those of their parents.

I think Mencap were calling for friends and families to contact as the campaign is in particular concerned with people who are in ‘assessment centres’ such as Winterbourne: in this case severe abuse was being perpetuated by the very people who were meant to be ‘carers’, and who had control over internet and telephone access. Several of the carers were caught on film saying words to the effect of ‘Nobody will believe you’ and threatened further and worse violence if they did try to tell a friend or family member. In this case, as with Ash Court care home recently, family members became suspicious of the ‘care’ being delivered and were integral to the whistleblowing process. In the text though it does say “If you want to share the experience you or someone you know has had”, which I took to be people with disabilities themselves or the people who know them. The report was also provided in an  easy read format for accessibility for people with learning disabilities, which Mencap do for all their literature… so I guess they’re part way there?

FYI: If any of my followers find my posts or commentary problematic or discriminatory, please flag this up with me. I promise not to be a douche about it. I’m keen to understand others’ perspectives and to check myself on the regular, xo

Notes

  1. sharpact said: And we do speak for ourselves! It’s nice to have a forum whereby we can also see it from other’s point of view. No one but “us”, (us being each individual person) however, knows how we feel! Sharing is caring!
  2. mindovermatterzine posted this