Columnist and campaigner Michael McEwan reports for healthandcare.scot on an organisation which has supported people with disabilities in Scotland to break down barriers and achieve their goals for half a century.
I've been involved over the years with a number of different organisations, one of which being Values Into Action Scotland (VIAS) which now celebrates its 50th anniversary.
VIAS was formed in 1971 when Ann Shearer, Sandra Franklin and Anita Hunt started a campaign for institutional closure.
I don't like this phrase but they were initially called the Campaign for the Mentally Handicapped (CMH) and set about recruiting others willing to join.
CMH became Values Into Action in 1996, and in 2006 Values Into Action Scotland was launched.
I've seen the organisation going from strength to strength over the years, and it's good to see the progress its made as an organisation in that time.
It believes people with a learning disability or autism have equal opportunities, and are supported to achieve their goals, whether in employment or forging relationships.
I worked for the VIAS in the past as a sessional worker. I went out to deliver training to employers about the barriers people face trying to get into employment.
I met some good colleagues who I'm still in touch with today, and two years ago I was asked to join the board.
As a board member I get to know, and have some input in, what's going on behind the scenes of VIAS.
The role helps me develop my advocacy on disability issues, and share what we do with people outside of the organisation.
VIAS run a number of different projects, one being ‘Sexual Health and Empowerment’ (SHE). SHE teaches women about what it means to have good, healthy relationships, and how to keep themselves safe from harm.
I feel this is an important subject and one we should be talking about more.
Other projects they run is ‘The Life I Want’, which is the first person led public social partnership in Scotland. Covering the Greater Glasgow area, it creates opportunities for people to make practical differences to their own lives.
It consists of five themed workstreams on key human rights: health, housing, relationships, employment and transitions.
A few years ago I spoke at an event on relationships about my own experience. My partner doesn't have a disability and the point of my talk was that you can go out with anyone, with or without a disability.
A new project called ‘The Assembly’ is made up of people who support and facilitate accessible policies and active political engagement for Scotland 's community of people with a learning disability and/or autism, who can often be disengaged from decisions being made about our lives.
Research shows that their participation can be limited to carers and support staff.
The assembly is taking the lead in supporting political engagement in its communities.
I have been lucky to have been at some of these meetings and it's powerful.
The 50th year anniversary kicks off on Monday the 28th of November and lasts until the 3rd of December.
Norma Curran, CEO of VIAS told me: "We're delighted to host this series of 10 events that look at this history of Values Into Action.
“From the development of the Campaign for the Mentally Handicapped in 1971 through to our present-day activities, there has been a strong thread running through everything that we do. That is putting people with lived experience of learning disability and/or autism at the very heart of decision making, and scrutiny of support and services.
“Events run throughout the week beginning 28th November focusing on a decade per day of our fifty years with the Friday focussing on what we do now - providing quality supports and services to create a world that's inclusive for all."
Monday will see a seminar celebrating the organisation’s pioneering work carried out in 70s.
Founding members Ann Shearer, Peter Moss, Paul Williams and Alan Tyne will attend, to talk about what life was like for people with a learning disability at that time, and what motivated them to start the campaign.
Tuesday will move into the 80s with disability advocate John O'Brien, and there will be a presentation by Jordan Allan, who will illustrate the valuable contribution of the five accomplishments in helping people to have good lives.
The full programme of events can be found here.
