Why is there a Citizenship Academy?

Leonard Cheshire Disability has formed a partnership with the Electoral Commission for a three year project designed to empower disabled people throughout Scotland to become actively involved in their local community, with an emphasis on increasing awareness and understanding of the Scottish democratic processes. It aims to equip participants with the confidence and skills needed to voice their opinions, reinforce their rights and influence the decision making processes in society.

Reason for the Academy

From past research Leonard Cheshire Disability has highlighted concern that initiatives to promote active citizenship frequently only characterise disabled people as beneficiaries of voluntary activity, rather than see them as active citizens in their own right and it is this that in partnership with The Electoral Commission, Leonard Cheshire Disability wishes to change. – Links to info on Disability in Scotland: A Review of the Evidence Base, Scottish Executive 2005) and (Disabilities Equality Duty, DDA 2005) Realizing Potential document.

The lasting legacy of the Academy will ensure that disabled people can make their own voices heard loud and clear on what ever subject they feel strongly about, in the same way that our older citizens have embraced articulating their views to society thus making politicians take note, so too will political parties have to pay serious attention to the needs and desires of disabled people. Instead of treating disability issues as an after thought, which at present most parties seem to do, the more disabled people become empowered this should change so that a dedicated section on disability issues are a staple in parties manifestos just like elderly issues are now the status quo, Leonard Cheshire Disability believes that the future call of disabled people will be to loud to be ignored!

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