Launch of Involve Me resource

September 2011

A major new resource for all those working with people with profound and multiple learning disabilities (PMLD) was launched on Friday 23 September at City Hall, London.

Since 2009, Mencap and the British Institute of Learning Disabilities (Bild) have been working on Involve Me, a three-year project on increasing the involvement of people with profound and multiple learning disabilities (PMLD) in decision making and consultation.

"Often, when we have convinced people to involve people with PMLD in decision making, they've asked how to do this meaningfully. So we hope Involve Me offers strategies for involving people as fully as possible,” explains Beverley Dawkins, Mencap's national officer for PMLD and chair of the Involve Me steering group.

Funded by the Renton Foundation, Involve Me used four practice sites to explore creative ways to involve people with PMLD in decision making and consultation. These included creative communication using methods; such as art, music and film to enhance communication. And peer advocacy, through which someone with a learning disability acts as an advocate for the person with PMLD.

The resource consists of 'Involve Me: a practical guide' - a full version and a summary booklet, and an independent evaluation by the Foundation for People for Learning Disabilities. The guide refers to real-life examples as well as video clips, downloadable resources and the Involve Me film, which are all available on an interactive DVD.

More information

Find out more about the Involve Me resource on Mencap's website.