The founder members were:

Dr & Mrs Samuel Curran

Mr & Mrs James Henderson

Mr & Mrs Duncan McIntosh

Mr & Mrs George Maugham

Mr & Mrs Harold Shapter

"I joined ENABLE in1968, six weeks after ourdaughter was born. Thebranch structure madeyou feel that you weren'talone. We were totallyignorant of our rights.Fortunately, we weresurrounded by experts inENABLE - all of themvoluntary members."

ENABLE has changed itsname 4 times in the last 50years.

1954 -Scottish Association ofParents of HandicappedChildren

1961 -Scottish Society forMentally HandicappedChildren

1973 -Scottish Society for theMentally Handicapped

1993 - ENABLE

"ENABLE encouraged usto raise our expectationsfor our son."

Did youknow?

How it all began

Learning Disability has come a longway in the past 50

years. Much of the progresshas been due to ENABLE.50 years ago a parent of achild with a learningdisability was made to feelashamed. Learning disability

was a real stigma. Some parents hidthemselves and their child away. Therewere few services and parents were oftenleft to cope on their own.

Into this void came ENABLE.

Founder member, Jim Henderson, explainedhow it all started: "The seed was plantedwhile I was watching a TV broadcast in 1953.A mother was being interviewed concerningthe problem of bring up her handicappedchild. It was typical of the outlook at thattime that, during the entire broadcast, themother's name was in shadow and her namewas never divulged. At the end, the address ofthe National Association in London appeared.

I applied for membership and suggested thata branch be formed in Scotland. At the time,our daughter was 6 years, with no prospect ofeducation or training in sight.The Secretarywas most helpful but could hold no hope offorming a Scottish branch in the immediatefuture. He did, however, send me a list of15 Scottish members. I determined to

551954■ 1954 - 28 February 1954, four parentsget together. April 1954, public meeting,Glasgow, SAPHC set up. September 1954,local group starts up, Blairgowrie.

■ 1955 - Broomhill Centre opens, Glasgow.Branches in Lanarkshire, Dumfries & Galloway .Blairgowrie group sets up occupational centre forchildren. Junior Occupational Centre, Dumfries.

Voluntary day centre, Kincardineshire Branch, 1970

Cutting the 21st birthday cake, Duchess ofKent & Chairperson Jack Crombie, 1975

Into the

Duncan McIntosh, Catherine Shapter, SamuelCurran, May Birss, Jim Henderson, 1990

Day Care Centre,Airdrie Branch, 1973

contact four who were living in the Glasgowarea. My first contact was Mrs CatherineShapter who had already been thinking andworking along the same lines as myself."

So in February 1954, four sets of parentsmet to discuss setting up a Scottishorganisation to help parents like themselvesand to get better services for their children.Several meetings later, they published anotice in the local paper inviting anyoneto attend a public meeting in GlasgowCorporation Education Offices on the 9th April 1954. Over 300 people turnedup and an organisation was born - Scottish Association of Parents of Handicapped Children.

From the start, the organisation relied onmutual help and voluntary effort.Fundraising was a key activity. Branches and local groups began to sprout.The first branch opened in Blairgowrie in September 1954. Within 10 years, therewere 40 branches and 4000 members.

"We made a point of never turning down anoffer of help. There was a job for everyone -whether it was serving on the ExecutiveCouncil or serving tea at a social evening."

Early priorities were to keep parents intouch with each other, to discuss problemsand share ideas, to raise awareness amongstparents, the public and government bodiesand to bring learning disability into the light.

Karen Bain is a busy mum with a full-time job and 3 children but still finds time to be involved in ENABLE.

"It's a great source of advice and support and has meant I'vebeen able to achieve appropriateservices for my son. I don't feel so alone. Plus, I feel I'm helpingshape ENABLE's priorities todayand for the future."

Andrew Doyle is the chairperson ofnational ACE and active in his localbranch. He speaks up for people

with learning disabilities on a number of different groups.

"Being part of ENABLE givesyou a stronger voice and makes you feel more involved.It's given me more confidenceand the chance to help others."

60 1964■ 1956 - Branches & groups in Aberdeen,Edinburgh, Airdrie. Junior OccupationalCentres, Airdrie, Newton Stewart,Castle Douglas

■ 1964 - 40 local branches and a membership of 4000.

■ 1960 - Bought an office inGlasgow and appointed first staff.

light

The first thing tackled was practicalsupport.

In 1954, parents had very little supportand were left to care for children withsevere disabilities at home - as those

children had no entitlement to go to school.Less than a year later, ENABLE pioneeredand launched one of the first day servicesfor children. Based at the home of Mrs Margaret Barton in Broomhill Drive,Glasgow, it gave some parents a break fromcaring all day every day for their children.Twenty children attended for part of theweek each. Following its success, GlasgowCorporation opened a similarcentre 18 monthslater.

But getting a breakfor a few hours aweek isn't alwaysenough. More wasneeded.When theorganisation wasoffered Craigrownie Castle near Cove byMiss Ella Stewart in1956, it leapt at the chance to set up itsown respite holiday home - despite havingonly £400 in the bank. An organising committee was set up led by memberArthur Roddick. After 2 years of backbreaking work - much of it carried out by members in their spare time - theStewart Home opened in June 1958.

Between 1958 and1983, the StewartHome provided a service to 5475families.

£400 in 1956 is worth £6050 today,£7000 now equals£106,000.

Between 1956-1986,the Minerva Club of Glasgow donatednearly £20,000 from its operaticproductions toENABLE’s respite homes.

In the 1950s, only20% of married womenworked.In 2003, 55% ofwomen with childrenaged under 5 work.

Over 1,600 adultswith learningdisabilities inScotland get someform of communityshort break during atypical week.

"Getting a break makes allthe difference and it's greatknowing my daughter ishaving fun at the sametime."

ENABLE believesfamily carers should be entitled to 4 weeksrespite each year, takenin a way that best suitsthem and their child.

Getting a break

From

castles to

1954 66■ 1954 - ENABLE set up (SAPHC) ■ 1958 - Stewart Home opens, Cove

■ 1955 - Broomhill day centre for children opens

■ 1956 - offered Craigrownie Castle, Cove

Craigrownie Castle / Stewart Home

On holiday at the Stewart Home

Viewpark Home Kitchens

Tea time at the Stewart Home

Did youknow?

It was Scotland's first short-stay home forchildren with learning disabilities and costmore than £7000 to convert and equip.Funds were raised through any means possible. 'Bawbee boxes' were placed inoffices and factories, a 'linen chest' tookdonations of bedding, and various amateurdrama productions gifted their proceeds.

The Stewart Home offered holidays tochildren up to the age of 13 and laterexpanded to include holidays for teenage and adult women with learning disabilities.

In 1966, asecond home,Viewpark, wasopened in Alyth, Perthshire,offering holidays to malesover 13 years old.

Both homes closed in the1980s. Demand fell for thistype of respite and holiday

service as other services and holiday facilities increased over the years.

Today ENABLE has a successful family-based short breaks service in Fife -Lend a Hand. Our Natural Breaks serviceoffers flexible one-to-one support toenable individuals to do the things theywant to do in their leisure time at thesame time as giving parents a break.

communities

Christopher, agednine, lives in Fifewith his mum

and stepdad, Mandy andScott McDiarmid.Thanks to Lend-a Hand,Mandy and Scott wereput in touch with volunteers Peter andHilary, who agreed to look after Christopherone day per month. Now the arrangement ismore flexible and Christopher has even sleptovernight at their home.

"Christopher loves the time he spends with Peterand Hilary. They take him out and plansurprises for him" said Mandy. "And they'vebecome good friends to us. It's great to havepeace of mind knowing that Christopher ishappy and so well cared for.This is ideal for us."

84 2001■ 1960 - Mental Health (Scotland) Act

■ 1966 - Viewpark Home opens, Alyth

■ 1968 - Social Work (Scotland) Act

■ 2001 -Natural Breaksservice opens

■ 1995 - Respite facility, Cumbernauld Branch

■ 1983 - Stewart Home closes■ 1985 - Lend a Hand set up

■ 1989 - Viewpark Home closes

Arthur Roddick, Ken & Tom Fortune taking a break from scraping walls (1956/7)

Minerva Clubprogramme

ENABLE funded research to tackle metabolic disorders.All children in Scotlandnow receive the Guthrieheel prick test shortlyafter birth.

"Parents set up ENABLE as a support for themselves.It concentrated on basic services but some memberssoon realised that they neededto tackle things in other waysthrough legislation." Parent, 1960s.

ENABLE fought to get the right to education in school forall children. It took 20 years. It is now official policy that all children should be educated and includedin their local schools as far as possible.

"My daughter was one of the first pupils with Downsyndrome to attend a specialschool. These schools weremainly for pupils with physical disabilities. She was given a place at a junior occupational centre but we refused to send her and lobbied the educationauthority and health board tillshe got into the special school."Parent, 1970s

ENABLE believes thatchildren with learning disabilities should be treated with dignity andrespect and have access to education that will help each child maximisehis or her potential.

Equality for all

ENABLE fights for the rights of allchildren and adults with learningdisabilities to equality and an ordinary

life. In the early days this meant finding outabout the causes of learning disability andfighting for access to education.

Practical researchLearning disabilities can be caused after birthbecause the body cannot cope with certainchemicals in food. Early diagnosis is essentialto prevent this. Several ENABLE branchesgave funding in the early 1960s to Stobhillhospital, Glasgow, to research phenylketonuria(PKU) and establish a screening programme.Now all children in Scotland are tested atbirth and their diet can be controlled if necessary. Later, in 1981, ENABLE funded testequipment for neonatal hypothyroidism -another condition that can lead to learningdisability if not treated.

Education for allMeanwhile a key concern was that childrenwith the most profound disabilities receivedno services at all and many children had toattend 'junior occupational centres' ratherthan school.

ENABLE challenged the thinking that thesechildren could not learn. Following theexample of the Broomhill centre in Glasgow,local branches set up day centres for children in order to give them educationand training in basic skills. Many of thesewere in local church or community halls and relied on voluntary help.

1954 75■ 1954 - ENABLE founded (SAPHC) ■ 1975 - Education(Mentally HandicappedChildren) (Scotland) Act

■ 1955 - First voluntary day centres forchildren with complex disabilities set up

Greenock Branch day centre, 1964

Kincardineshire Branch day centre, 1971

Early learning matters

Getting to grips with writing

Avoice for

Did youknow?

Along with other parent societies andvoluntary organisations, ENABLE campaigned for all children to have the right to go to school. Finally legislation was passed in Scotland in 1975. It was now the duty of every local authority to provide education to all children irrespectiveof their disabilities. From now on, no child was regarded as 'ineducable'. Localauthorities took over responsibility for theservices pioneered by ENABLE branches.

The government set up an advisorycommittee, which produced the ‘WarnockReport' in 1978. This led to new educationlaws and the special educational needsrecording system as we know it today -the Record of Needs.

In the last few years, education has beenunder the spotlight again. Now the policy is to educate every child as far as possible inlocal schools alongside their neighbours andfriends. New laws are being drafted to fitchildren's needs in the 21st century. Onceagain, ENABLE has lobbied and givenevidence to the politicians and civil servantswho are shaping these laws. But it's not justparents' voices that are important. In recentyears, ENABLE has developed self advocacywork with children with learning disabilitiesso they can have their say. Nowadays, thereis great emphasis on children's rights ingeneral. ENABLE makes sure that childrenwith learning disabilities are included andlistened to.

ENABLE is pioneering self advocacywork with children with learningdisabilities. Local groups in Fife,

Highlands and Perthshire are bringingtogether children from special andmainstream schools to explore ideas and the things that matter to them like school,friendship, and social activities. A NationalYoung Person's Self Advocacy Group wasformed in 2003 and recently presented itsviews to First Minister, Jack McConnell.Children with learning disabilities arebeginning to find their voice.

1999 2004■ 1980 - Education (Scotland) Act

■ 1999 - ENABLE Children's Committee formed

■ 2003 - ENABLE National Young People's Self Advocacy Group

■ 2004 - Education (Additional Support forLearning) (Scotland) Act

Chairperson Stanley Strachan hands over fundsfor equipment at Stobhill Hospital, 1981

National Young People's Self Advocacy Group, 2003

children

"Now we get treated betterby others as they've realised

we are all equal".

"Scotland's future is talkingso why don't you take the time to listen".

1968

When ENABLE began, therewas little planning forresidential services in the

community. The choice was institutionalcare or remaining in the family home.

By 1970, there were 22 long-stay hospitalsin Scotland housing over 7,000 children and adults with learning disabilities.The same year, a government report stated:"The primary…need of many…patients…isappropriate education and training from anearly age. For the purpose of receiving thiseducation... hostel accommodation in thecommunity would be perfectly suitable."

In 1965, the Scottish Home & HealthDepartment had urged Local Authorities toprovide hostel places for adults with learningdisabilities. However, local authorities wereslow to act.This was an issue that vexedmany parents.They wanted to see their sons and daughters settled and secure in the local community.

Hostel plan

ENABLE seized the initiative and developed a 'hostel plan'. From 1968,it offered selected local authorities interest-free loans of £10,000 - or about50% of the capital costs. "It was a sprat tocatch a mackerel" said one member. Fourlocal authorities were quickly hooked andplans for building began in Elgin, Ayrshire,West Lothian and Airdrie. Other localauthorities began to follow.Within 3 years,14 hostels were nearing completion or inthe pipeline. Glasgow Branch also opened

Catching A home of our own

76■ 1972-73 - Hostels in Prestwick, Elgin, Kilwinning,Caithness, Greenock, RenfrewAirdrie,West Lothian

Prestwick hostel, 1972

Airdrie hostel, 1975

Winchester House, Elgin, 1972

There is always something to be done

In 1971, 7,400 peoplewith learning disabilitieslived in hospital. 43% oflong-stay patients werein wards of more than50 beds.

In 1972 the ScottishHome & HealthDepartment estimatedthat 2,200 hostel placeswere needed for adultswith learning disabilities.There were 59 placesavailable.

"We can never getaway from the fear of what will happento our son if we areno longer able to lookafter him. What is thepoint in resisting thepressure to put him inhospital because weknow it is better forhim at home if, in theend, that is where he will end up?"Parent, 1970

In 2002, there were 899people left in hospital.The government plans to close all Scottish long-stay hospitals foradults with learning disabilities by 2005.

Today 4195 adults withlearning disabilities inScotland live in theirown tenancies withsupport.

ENABLE believes peopleshould be able to live in thecommunity in a home oftheir choice.

■ 1968 - ENABLE's 'hostel plan'

■ 1971 - Balshagray House, Glasgow

Did youknow...

an independent hostel, Balshagray House.

Key Housing

By the mid-1970s, housing for adults withlearning disabilities had become ENABLE'smain priority. Anxious to keep up themomentum, it applied to the HousingCorporation for funding to set up a specialisthousing association. Key Housing Association(now an independent organisation) openedits first house in Glasgow, in 1982.

Family - sized homes

The housing options for people able to live independent or semi-independent lives had increased significantly - but adults with profound disabilities still faced the traditional choice of institutional or parentalcare. Again, ENABLE responded. SSMHHomes (now part of ENABLE Scotland)was set up in 1987 to provide family-sizedhomes for adults with complex needs.

Community living

Today, hospitals are being emptied andclosed. More adults with learning disabilitiesare living in their local communities as tenants or home-owners - with staff support if required. They might live with a friend, a partner or on their own - justlike anyone else. ENABLE Scotland nowprovides a range of supported accommodation or support to people in their own homes - from Orkney toAyrshire and still growing.

But we’re not complacent. There are stillan awful lot of mackerels to be caught.

mackerels

B rian is a great example of how thelives of people with learningdisabilities have changed over the

years. In 1954, as an 8 year-old boy, Brianwent into Birkwood hospital. He spent 47years of his life there before moving out intoa house of his own, supported by ENABLE.Now he attends college two days a week tolearn carpentry and crafts and is thinkingabout learning to read.

"I like being in myown house - it'sgood. I like cookingmy tea and I've justdone somedecorating. Nowthat I have my ownhouse I can go outwhenever I like."

6 92 2004w,

■ 1978 - Key Housing

■ 1986 - Rymonth Housing, St Andrews Branch

■ 1987 - SSMH Homes

■ 1983 - Residential housing, Cumbernauld Branch■ 2004 - Home at last report

■ 2005 - long-stayhospitals due to close

In 1969 there were 2,250places in 67 centres. 12centres (355 places)were run by voluntarybodies.

"Is it unrealistic to imaginethat the hostel resident mightgraduate to living with others,unsupervised, in 'digs', earninghis living in openemployment?"ENABLE conference, 1971

65% of people withlearning disabilitieswould like a paid job(1996).

"I'm looking for a jobworking in a shop, like afruit shop or a book shop.That would be a good job."

In 2000, day care costlocal authorities about£53million per year.93% of people in dayservices did not havepaid work.

"I went to the job centre firstwho put me in touch withENABLE. This is the bestwork I've done.The best thingis having more money."

ENABLE believes peoplewith learning disabilitiesshould be valued as activemembers of theircommunity and haveaccess to training, localservices and paid jobs.

Did youknow?

Day services and employment

601957-59■ 1957-59 - SeniorOccupation Centres,Airdrie, Hamilton,Leven, Aberdeen

■ 1960 - Mental Health (Scotland) Act

■ 1960 - Senior Occupation Centres, Dumfries,Blairgowrie. Glasgow Branch work centre

Morethan a

Woodhall, 1999

Out in the community, 2002

Carisbrooke, 1993

Glasgow branch work centre, date unknown

Riding lessons, 1985

People with learning disabilities "have potential far beyond ourdreams" said ENABLE when looking

to the future in 1971. But ENABLE didn'tjust dream. It lobbied. It demanded. Andwhen authorities were slow to act, it set up services to show what was possible.

In 1957, branches had added SeniorOccupational Centres to the list of servicesthey ran. The first opened in Airdrie andHamilton. By 1964, there were 10 centresrun by ENABLE branches. ENABLEmembers lobbied hard over day services in the 1960 Mental Health (Scotland) Actand were delighted when the right totransport to day services was won.

Adults with profound disabilities

In 1977, ENABLE gained urban-aid fundingto set up Levern and Easterhill day centresin Glasgow - specifically catering for thosewith complex needs.The lessons learnedfrom these pioneer services werepublished in Those without, in 1981.

Carisbrooke centre was set up by ENABLE in 1985 for adults with complex disabilities in Airdrie. It now offers training within thecentre plus a flexible, community-based alternative service. Pushing for improvementsto day services has been a 50-year campaignbut slowly people are beginning to have a choice and a range of options out in the community with everyone else. ENABLEcan offer flexible day opportunities in mostparts of Scotland.

85 2004■ 1967 - WoodhallHorticultural Nursery,Edinburgh Branch

■ 1977 - Levern & Easterhill centres, Glasgow■ 1985 - Carisbrooke centre, Airdrie

■ 2000 - The same as you?report

■ 2004 - Workingfor a change?report

daydream

Getting down to work thanks to ENABLE

The chance to work

Enabling people to gain employment wasan aim from the first. In 1960, GlasgowBranch opened a work centre that is stillgoing strong. Edinburgh Branch started theproductive Woodhall Horticultural Nurseryin 1967. The entrepreneurial spiritcontinues today with an award-winningproject,Wood Recyclability, set up bybranches in Grampian.

Ordinary jobs

Since the 1980s, the drive has been to getpeople into ordinary jobs. We work withthe person to find out what they want todo and can link into governmentprogrammes, local enterprise companiesand the job centre. Often we simplyapproach employers on behalf of someonewho wants a job in their industry.

Now ENABLE is the biggest voluntarysector provider in Scotland of supportedemployment for people with learningdisabilities and has led the way in itsdevelopment. All of our projects includepathways to real jobs.

With the publication of Working for achange? by the Scottish Executive in 2004,employment is finally on the agenda. Thetarget is to get 50% of adults with learningdisabilities into paid employment by 2009.ENABLE has always known people havepotential. Our challenge is to ensure jobsare no longer just a dream.

Josie loves fashions and clothes so a job asa sales assistant in a department store isperfect for her. When Josie was leaving

school she wasn't sure where she wasgoing to work. She was put in touch withthe LINK project, run by ENABLE'ssupported employment service in Glasgow,which help school leavers bridge the gapbetween school and work. Now Josie is inseventh heaven.

"I really like my job and it's close to home so Ican walk to work. ENABLE have been good atsorting out any problems, like with my benefits.The support has been great."

People need fun not just services.From the earliest days, branchesprovided opportunities for social

activities, laughter and friendship for bothparents and their sons and daughters.

The vast majority of branches have runsocial clubs for many years. People can play indoor games like pool, table tennis,or board games or just get together for achat. For many adults, the 'club night' is thehighlight of their week - a chance to relaxwith friends. Edinburgh Branch lays claimto the first swimming club in 1963 but this activity was quickly adopted by otherbranches too.

Holiday highlights

Branch activities soon included summeroutings and taking small groups away onholiday. In 1979, during the Year of the Child, branch holidays were boosted by theWomen’s Royal Voluntary Service (WRVS)when it offered to assist in running holidaycamps for children. It already had experiencehelping Helensburgh Branch with a successful camp at Killearn. In all, 11 WRVScamps were run that year, expanding thelives of over 100 children.The camps continued for many years under the guidinginfluence of Jean Jahoda of HelensburghBranch. Today, branch members still enjoyplanning trips and going on holiday together.

Branches also wanted to give families thechance to take a holiday and started

"The holiday campsprovide a consistentnetwork of socialrelationships whichmean a tremendousamount to the peoplewho come on holidaywith us."Holiday organiser,1991

"I started to play 10-pinbowling in 1993 and Ienjoy doing this. I had not played sports muchbefore. I play in theENABLE league. I likeplaying and enjoymeeting friends andmaking new ones."

"I am very excitedabout my holiday this year. I am goingto London. This will be the first time I willhave been in anaeroplane."

"The biggest difference a job has made is thatnow I can have a sociallife. It means I can go out more with my friendseven if it's just for a coffeeor to the cinema."

ENABLE believes children and adults with learningdisabilities should beable to enjoy a variedsocial life and take partin leisure interests withfriends.

The social whirl

Always time

1959 72■ 1959 onwards - Branch social clubs■ 1963 - Swimming club, Edinburgh Branch

■ 1964 - First holiday caravan, Dundee Branch

■ 1972 - First Killearn camp, Helensburgh Branch

■ 1979 -Expansion ofholiday campswith WRVS

Glasgow branch social club, 1972

Helensburgh Branch swimming gala, 1973

Youth hostelling holiday

Holidaymakers, Helensburgh Branch c.1979

Holidaymakers, Montrose Branch, 1979

New caravan for Rutherglen Branch

Did youknow?

acquiring and renting out holiday caravansat a reasonable cost. By 1975, 14 brancheswere providing this facility. Mid ArgyllBranch opened the Kate McGlynn holidaychalet near Kilmartin, in 1980.

In the 1990s ENABLE was able to set upa Holiday Bureau to help groups andindividuals go on holiday. For several years,it organised breaks at home and abroaduntil it closed due to lack of funding.ENABLE's Natural Breaks service now helpspeople to take part in local pursuits and alsoto have weekend and longer breaks away.

Finding friends

Being part of ENABLE has broughtfriendship to many people over the years.But there are many children and adults withlearning disabilities who lead lonely, isolatedlives. Some simply find it difficult to makefriends or join in local activities. Others mayfind themselves surrounded by paid staff butlittle opportunity to form ordinaryrelationships.

In its 50th year, ENABLE has started an appeal to fund a friendship project.ENABLElink will bring children or adults with learning disabilities into contact withothers and help to form connections thatmight lead to firm friendships. The firstENABLElink service has started in Dumfriesand Galloway and is already making a difference.

for friends

Louise Bousteadhas just movedinto a new

community flat in Annan.It's been an exciting timefor her and she's beensurrounded by cardsfrom well-wishers. Louise is very popularand has lots of interests but she still findsherself on her own a lot of the time.

ENABLElink recently set up a friendship forLouise with Esther, someone she used to dovoluntary work with. They have agreed tospend time together on Sunday afternoons.

"I think ENABLElink is a great idea. People doneed help to make friends and to get out anddo things. Esther and I like going to visit castlesand having coffee together."

1980 2004■ 1980 - Kate McGlynn Holiday Home

■ 1991 - ENABLE Holiday Bureau opens

■ 1998 - ENABLE Holiday Bureau closes

■ 2001 - Natural Breaks

■ 2002 - Redburn after school care & leisure scheme (RASCALS)

■ 2000 - Kilpatrick Play After Learning (PALS) ■ 2004 - ENABLElink

Orienteering, 1993

Kate McGlynn Holiday Home, Mid Argyll branch, 1980

Stranraer branch playscheme, 1988

ENABLE has 500national members andanother 4000 membersin 72 local branchesand groups.

About 5000 people eachyear are supported in arange of ways by ENABLE.This includes:• advocacy• after-school care• day services and

alternatives• employment support• family-based short

breaks• information• legal advice• leisure activities support• local area co-ordination• playschemes• supported living• transition from school

All of our servicesfocus on whatindividuals want andseek to help themachieve that. Wesupport children andadults with any kindof learning disabilityand at any stage oftheir lives.

"My hope for the futureis that society becomesmore inclusive and peoplewith learning disabilitiesbecome invisible again - butthis time for all the rightreasons."

ENABLE believes thatcommunity living isn'tenough. We are strivingfor real communityparticipation.

A voice and a choice

Looking

1975 95■ 1986 - 'Tom Clarke' Act

■ 1993 - ACE formed

■ 1990 - NHS & CommunityCare Act ■ 2000 - The same as you? report

Adults with Incapacity (Scotland) Act

■ 1995 - Disability DiscriminationAct, Children (Scotland) Act

The same asyou? 2000

Supporting people’s rights

Checking the traintimetable

ENABLE young people put rights into action

Did youknow?

50 years of achievement but so muchmore to do!

Campaigns

By campaigning, sometimes on our own,often with others, ENABLE has made adifference. For instance we:

• fought for education for all in the 60sand 70s

• helped Tom Clarke MP to shape theideas in the Disabled Person's(Services, Consultation andRepresentation) Act 1986 - theforerunner of much of today's disabilityand community care legislation

• campaigned to make it easier to act onbehalf of adults who lack capacity.TheAdults with Incapacity (Scotland) Act2000 was one of the first laws passedby the Scottish Parliament.

Now a parliament in Scotland meansgreater opportunities to bring aboutchanges to law and policy. In 2004 we aregiving evidence regarding additional supportfor learning and vulnerable witnesses andassisting our branches and local membersto make a difference through communityplanning.

Self -Advocacy

From the start ENABLE spoke up forpeople with learning disabilities but one ofour biggest achievements has been enablingthem to speak for themselves. ENABLE's

forward

2000 2010■ 2001 - Scottish Consortium for Learning Disability

■ 2003 - ENABLE National Young People's Self Advocacy Group

■ 2004 - Education (Additional Support for Learning)(Scotland) Act, Vulnerable Witnesses (Scotland) Act

■ 2010 - The same as you?fully implemented

Over 300 adults with learning disabilities andcarers take part in a public debate in the

Scottish Parliament, March 2003.

advisory committee of adults with learningdisabilities (ACE) was formed in 1993 andhas led campaigns and projects on

• bullying

• accessible public transport

• adult relationships and sex education

• and voter participation.

Today ENABLE is supporting children andyoung people to find their voice too - theyare already seeking a revolution in theirsocial and recreational opportunities.

Partnership

We are proud to have partners to help usin our quests and there are many morenow than in 1954! We feel government isnow really trying to change things and wewere delighted to work with the ScottishExecutive to produce a blueprint forlearning disability services over the next 10years - The same as you? - in 2000.We arenow working with the Executive and othersto make sure that its recommendationsreally happen. One of these was for a newScottish centre for learning disability andENABLE was delighted to win the bid toset this up in partnership with 12 otheragencies.The Scottish Consortium forLearning Disability (SCLD) is now taking alead in training, research and developing thepolicy of The same as you?, with peoplewith learning disabilities and carers at theheart of everything that they do.

Research

ENABLE endowed a Chair in LearningDisability at St Andrews University in 1986to encourage practical research. Nowadaysthere is a wealth of Scottish research intolearning disability. Branches in Grampianassisted the White Top Research Unit,University of Dundee, to investigate theneeds of older people and their carersin 1995. ENABLE works with otheracademic centres and, of course, SCLD.

A visible life

When ENABLE's founder members heldthat first public meeting in April 1954, theydreamt of an ordinary life for their sons anddaughters in which they got an education,a job, a house and a welcome from thecommunity. And they were determined tomake this happen.

At that time, children and adults withlearning disabilities were invisible. Now theyare out in the world. ENABLE has growninto a strong organisation offering a rangeof progressive services but still led by itsmembers. It works in partnership withothers. But most of all, it is building aconfident army of children and adults ableto speak on their own behalf and toadvocate for others too.

We look forward to a day when people areproud to be visible as people with learningdisabilities really contributing to the life ofthe community - indeed, helping others.

This booklet can give only a glimpse into the workof ENABLE over the last 50 years. There are manyunsung champions who have worked and battled toachieve a fairer life for children and adults withlearning disabilities. It is impossible to name them allor tell the whole story here. For 50 years, throughmembers working together locally and beyond,ENABLE has been able to offer shared understanding,practical support, vision and hope.

ENABLE6th Floor7 Buchanan StreetGlasgowG1 3HL0141 226 4541www.enable.org.uk

ENABLE is recognised as a Scottish charity No. SC009024.

Thanks to everyone who contributed photographs,memories and quotes.

Available in alternative formats.