The Learning Disability Task Force was set up in 2001 after the Government published the White Paper - Valuing People - A New Strategy for Learning Disability for the 21st Century.

The White Paper set out a commitment to improving the life chances of people with learning disabilities.  It said that there should be a government Task Force to review the delivery of the White Paper.
 
The Learning Disability Task Force was set up to represent all parts of the lives of people with learning disabilities.  Its membership includes; people with a learning disability, family carers, charitable organisations, learning disability experts and government bodies.  It has always been Co Chaired one of its Chairs must be a person with a learning disability.
 
The Task Force is Co Chaired by Rob Greig and Nicola Smith the National Directors for Learning Disabilities.
 
Task Force membership is reviewed every 2 years, recommendations are made by the Co Chairs and finally approved by the Minister for Care Services.
 
 

The Task Force meets four times a year.  It usually works on 4 main topics for a year.  The topics are chosen before the meetings, they are chosen because of they need more work and they are important to the lives of people with learning disabilities.  
 
All meetings are in an accessible format to make sure that every person on the Task Force can really take part in meetings.   There are rules to make sure that this happens are; speak clearly, don't use jargon, slow down and explain things when you are asked.  Minutes, letters and any other communications that are produced are written in an accessible or easy read format. 

The Task Force also uses the services of a graphic facilitator at its meetings to record the main themes of its meetings.
 

The Task Force agreed has agreed that it should work to the following goals:

• To be Champion for Change across England
• To show how people with a learning disability should be part of everything that we do
• To check that Valuing People happens everywhere
• To report to the government on how things are going and what we think it needs to do.

The Task Force selected the following topics for review:

• Health (September 2006)
• Proper Jobs (December 2006)
• Hate Crime (March 2007)
• Personal Control (June 2007)
• Valuing People Refresh (special workshop) (July 2007)
• Re visiting Health Care Issues (September 2007)
• Valuing People Refresh consultation (December 2007)

The Task Force will agree topics for 2008 shortly.

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