From my earliest memory I have been aware of people with learning disabilities. My Mum was a learning disability nurse in the 1960's and ran a Church of Scotland home in Stonehaven for children with mental subnormality (as the phrase was then). We lived in a wing of the home and the children we lived with were my friends - there were no differences, no barriers between us... just friends who played together.

Being a very forward thinking nurse, my Mum ensured that as many children as possible went to went to the local primary school.  It was there when I first encountered discrimination.  I remember at the tender age of 5 being outraged by the treatment my best friend Anne received because of her learning disability and shouting to the taunter: "that's my friend".  This is the reason I became a learning disability nurse nearly 30 years ago.

People with learning disabilities are still discriminated against, however Mencap works with people with learning disabilities to change laws, challenge prejudice and support them to live their lives as they choose - the very philosophy that my Mum promoted all those years ago.

Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page and read to my story.  I hope it inspires you to donate to a fantastic charity and change the lives of people with learning disabilities.

If this story inspires you to become a learning disability nurse, check out this link to our BSc (Hons) Nursing

http://www.bcu.ac.uk/courses/nursing-learning-disability 

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