Discrimination and bullying
How to read the stories

Discrimination and bullying

Feeling different

Having both a learning disability and being from an ethnic minority group can make it even more difficult to get good services.

Feeling different can be frightening, upsetting and infuriating. If people with learning disabilities from ethnic minority groups are discriminated against when they try to use services, they have the right to challenge the service provider. It is wrong to discriminate against anybody for any reason.

People with learning disabilities may not know that they should have equal rights to services and the right to be treated with respect. Some people in society do not treat others with respect, especially if they see them as being different from themselves. It’s important for people to speak up so that they can change how services are planned and delivered to meet their needs. People may be discriminated against because they have learning disabilities. Discrimination can also happen when a service user is from a different ethnic group to the person providing the service. The combination of having a learning disability and being from an ethnic minority group feels like a ‘double whammy’. It can make it even more difficult to get a good service.

Remember that sometimes discrimination can happen because of a misunderstanding. It is important that people don’t jump to the conclusion that they are being discriminated against. Remember that some service providers are not culturally competent.

People can speak up for themselves and do not just have to tolerate discriminatory behaviour. This part of the book can be used to help people understand that not only do they have a voice and the right to be heard, but they also have a choice about how they want to be treated.

If someone with learning disabilities is not satisfied with a service, but finds it too difficult to deal with on their own, they can involve someone else they trust to represent their views. There are countless other situations to which this principle can be applied, for example in using health services. Other ways include involving friends or relatives, paid carers, citizen advocates (see Glossary), professionals such as social workers – whoever is most appropriate at the time.

Glossary

Advocacy: Advocacy enables people to express their wishes and aspirations and make real choices. An advocate is someone who gives support to the person who needs their situation to be heard. This role can apply in helping someone access organisations and services such as education, healthcare, social welfare or housing.

Self-advocacy: Self-advocacy means getting your views across by speaking up for yourself and representing your own interests. With the right support, many people with learning disabilities can learn to advocate for themselves.

Citizen advocates: Citizen advocates are volunteers who create a relationship with a person with learning disabilities, seeking to understand and represent their views. They can make a vital contribution in enabling the voices of people with more complex disabilities to be heard.

Speaking up groups: ‘Speaking up groups’ are good starting points for people who want to learn the skills of speaking up. This is especially important for people who have been denied the right to be involved in the decisions made about their own lives.

How to read the stories

There is no right or wrong way to read the stories.

Some people are not used to reading stories. Start at the beginning and read the story in each picture. Encourage the reader to move through the pages at their own pace.
Encourage the person to tell the story in their own words. You will discover what they think is happening, what they already know, and how they feel. If you are using the pictures to help explain a procedure to someone, you may need to describe or clarify the actions being shown in each picture to help them understand. Try not to challenge the reader(s) or suggest their ideas are wrong.
Some pictures may be more difficult to understand. It can help to prompt the people you are supporting, for example:
• Who do you think that is?
• What is happening?
• How is he or she feeling?
• Do you feel like that? Has it happened to you/ your friend/ your family?
Allow people enough time to follow the pictures at their own pace. Allow time for discussion of each picture.
Some people may benefit from reading the larger story from which the extract has been taken. This will allow them to explore their feelings and experiences in more depth. To buy the complete book, follow the link to the bookshop that appears at the end of the story.