2011 election - lessons learnt

Welcome to my first article on this website - my aim is to look events from the point of view of disability issues

I was asked to come on here and help edit the site at the spring conference in gateshead, however to be honest since recoving from the rush of conference I was fully engage in the local election and have only just recovered from both the effort and very disapointing results. The saddiest thing about this is that in our town we had record low turnouts (16% in some cases). I know a some of this may have been to do with supporters of the coalision parties staying at home but there is a big problem with engaging people in the voting process.

Disability issues and engagement need to be thought about in the following ways:-

1) Positive stories need to be told about disability and how the community can include all people and groups and become stronger

2) Make it clear what the council and councillors do in terms of providing services for those with a disability and that help, and what ideas there are

3) The selection and nomination process should be made more staight forward so it is easier for everyone to put there names forward

4) How many people can you think of that have said they can help in campaigning but because we tend to do things the "same old way" they end up being left out and not able to engage, we must always be open to do things differently.

5) Lititure should be make much clearer and were possible text should be 14 points and above

LDDA (the association this website represents) is looking to grow it membership (http://disabilitylibdems.org.uk/en/page/join-us) so that it can play a bigger part in the promoting and influenceing disability policy'

If you have not already written your thankyou focus (aimed at lib dem councillors here) please try and include a local diability story

More to follow,