PM receives unusual gift to prompt better understanding of learning disabilities

People with learning disabilities helped to deliver a custom-made pair of shoes to the Prime Minister in a bid to encourage Government officials to better understand their lives.

The unusual delivery was organised by Hft, a national charity supporting adults with learning disabilities, which has launched a Walk In Our Shoes campaign.

The charity is enlisting public support to help facilitate opportunities for people with learning disabilities to share their experiences with politicians.

Billy Davis, Hft’s public affairs and policy manager, said: “We wanted to capture the attention of the Prime Minister with an unusual gift that plays on her love of shoes.

“Despite the learning disability sector accounting for a third of adult social care spend, the people we support feel excluded from the conversation in the political arena.

“With the impending green paper and parallel body of work around social care, it’s timelier than ever that the voices of people with learning disabilities are heard.

“That’s why the people we support are calling on politicians to walk in the shoes of people with learning disabilities.

“To spend time finding out more about the issues that matter to them with the aim of influencing long-lasting, positive policy change.”

Issues ranging from public toilet access to funding cuts are among concerns being raised by the charity.

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