Having worked (for more years than I care to remember!) to highlight the issues faced by those with learning disabilities I’m delighted to see the BBC and The Open University putting the spotlight on the area in this series, Nobody’s Normal.
Of course a series of five programmes can’t show every aspect of life as a person with a learning disability. But this “look through the window” offers an insight into some of the issues which those with learning disabilities, their families and carers face.
The timing of the series coincides with the launch of All About Us! a new book by Mencap (with accessible DVD), which I had the pleasure of writing, editing and compiling, in which people with learning disabilities, parents, carers, and professionals share their various personal stories and perspectives.
Between them a picture is painted of this aspect of our society – the great progress we’ve made, and the huge leap we have yet to take.
I hope that Nobody’s Normal and All About Us! help give voice to the many people we represented within them and give you an insight into the world of learning disabilities so that you make your input, small or large, into making society a better place for all of us.
Used with permission
Nobody's Normal in more depth:
OU on the BBC: Nobody's Normal - About the series
BBC
Nobody’ s Normal is a series about five significant stages in a lifetime…as lived by disabled people and their families. Read more : OU on the BBC: Nobody's Normal - About the series
OU on the BBC: Nobody's Normal - Programme 1: Baby love
BBC
Programme one in the BBC/OU's Nobody's Normal series explores parenting. Read more : OU on the BBC: Nobody's Normal - Programme 1: Baby love
OU on the BBC: Nobody's Normal - Programme 2: Education, education, education
BBC
The second programme in the BBC/OU's series Nobody's Normal looks at how the system tries to meet special educational needs. Read more : OU on the BBC: Nobody's Normal - Programme 2: Education, education, education
OU on the BBC: Nobody's Normal - Programme 3: Love is in the air
BBC
The third programme in the BBC/OU's Nobody's Normal series explores the challenges facing disabled people looking for a partner. Read more : OU on the BBC: Nobody's Normal - Programme 3: Love is in the air
OU on the BBC: Nobody's Normal - Programme 4: Moving on
BBC
For disabled people, striking out on their own can be difficult, as the fourth programme in the BBC/OU's Nobody's Normal series explores. Read more : OU on the BBC: Nobody's Normal - Programme 4: Moving on
OU on the BBC: Nobody's Normal - Programme 5: Who cares?
BBC
With disabled children living longer, the BBC/OU's Nobody's Normal series investigates the strains placed on carers. Read more : OU on the BBC: Nobody's Normal - Programme 5: Who cares?
OU on the BBC: Nobody's Normal - Courses
BBC
Want to know more - and perhaps get a qualification along the way? Investigate the opportunities offered by OU courses. Read more : OU on the BBC: Nobody's Normal - Courses
OU on the BBC: Nobody's Normal - Do you have caring responsibilities?
OU
The OU has produced this special information aimed at carers thinking of starting a course. Read more : OU on the BBC: Nobody's Normal - Do you have caring responsibilities?
OU on the BBC: Nobody's Normal - Martha Kearney's introduction
The Open University / Karen Parker
Read more : OU on the BBC: Nobody's Normal - Martha Kearney's introduction
OU on the BBC: Nobody's Normal - Responses to Baby love
BBC
Our panel offer their personal responses to the first programme in the series Nobody's Normal: 'Baby love'. Read more : OU on the BBC: Nobody's Normal - Responses to Baby love
OU on the BBC: Nobody's Normal - Responses to Education, education, education
BBC
Some of the questions raised in Education, education, education are explored further in our panel's responses. Read more : OU on the BBC: Nobody's Normal - Responses to Education, education, education
OU on the BBC: Nobody's Normal - Responses to Love is in the air
BBC
The challenges and triumphs of forming meaningful relationships form the heart of our panel's responses to the programme. Read more : OU on the BBC: Nobody's Normal - Responses to Love is in the air
OU on the BBC: Nobody's Normal - Responses to Moving on
BBC
Picking up on some of themes of the Moving on programme, our panel offer their responses. Read more : OU on the BBC: Nobody's Normal - Responses to Moving on
OU on the BBC: Nobody's Normal - Responses to Who cares?
BBC
Our panel consider a few of the issues raised by the programme Who cares and offer some responses. Read more : OU on the BBC: Nobody's Normal - Responses to Who cares?
OU on the BBC: Nobody's Normal - Taking it further
Production team
If you're a carer, related to a disabled person, or disabled yourself, there's a wind range of help and support available from a network of... Read more : OU on the BBC: Nobody's Normal - Taking it further
Be the first to post a comment.
Login or Register to post comments