My Life My Choice

My Life My Choice is a self-advocacy organisation for people with learning disabilities, run by people with learning disabilities. Our vision is a world where people with learning disabilities are treated without prejudice, and are able to have choice and control over their own lives.

Our mission is:

1. To make sure that there is independent support for people with learning disabilities in Oxfordshire to have their say, claim their rights and to take control of their own lives.
2. To make sure that the views of people with learning disabilities are taken seriously by both professionals in the services they use and the wider public.
3. To “Power Up” their lives so they can make a positive contribution to society.

Work supported by Act for Change Fund

This grant funds the development of a youth parliament led by young people with learning disabilities that will campaign around injustices that they experience. Funding will also support a campaigning training programme delivered by young people with learning disabilities for their peers.

The Young Champions’ Parliament is made up of several My Life My Choice college and young persons groups. Together, they have identified five social issues that act as a barrier to all young people with learning disabilities. The five social issues are:

• Work and employment
• Relationships and sexual health
• Mental health
• Environment
• Transitions (from school to the big wide world)

The Young Champions’ have worked tirelessly on planning campaigns related to these social issues. Later this year they will launch toolkits to support young people with learning disabilities to navigate sex and their transition from school; a podcast about their experiences of being young and disabled; workshops to encourage and teach others how to reuse, recycle and support their local environment and community.

The Young Champions’ are also running a number of ‘mini’ campaigns which include a campaign to remember the patients of Littlemore Hospital, Oxford and thanking frontline workers for their support during the COVID-19 pandemic.