Celebrating the National Vision for Children and Young People with a Learning Disability in Wales
13 February 2025
The National Vision and Action Plan for Children and Young People with a Learning Disability in Wales was celebrated at a showcasing event on Thursday 13 February.
The event shone a spotlight on the significant contributions made by children and young people to producing the plan, reflecting the importance of ensuring their voices are heard in shaping the services that impact them.
The National Vision and Action Plan for Children and Young People with a Learning Disability aims to create a Wales-wide approach to providing equitable access to services, empowering them to reach their full potential.
Improvement Cymru, as part of the NHS Wales Executive, welcomed school council and pupil parliament representatives from across Wales. Over 50 delegates attended the event at the Glassroom Art Centre in the Vale of Glamorgan.
The event also marked the launch of a newly co-produced, visually accessible version of the National Vision. It was created in direct response to feedback from young people.
Rebecca Curtis, Senior Improvement Manager within Improvement Cymru’s Learning Disability programme, said: “We’re so pleased to give key partners from across health, education and social care the opportunity to understand and appreciate the impact children and young people can make when their voice is valued.
“We’ve gained so many insightful contributions from children and young people in co-producing our National Vision and Action Plan. They’ve provided unique perspectives that have made a big difference to our work, including the need for an accessible version to improve inclusivity and engagement.”
Rhiannon Ivens, Deputy Director Inclusion and Corporate Business at Welsh Government, delivered the opening address. She spoke about the importance of having a defined National Vision and cross-sector collaboration, a crucial step in delivering a more inclusive, person-centred future for children and young people across Wales.
The National Vision aims to establish a consistent, accessible, and easily understood approach to children’s services across Wales. Developed by Improvement Cymru’s Learning Disability programme, this includes addressing inequalities in access to healthcare and enhance transition services.
Improvement Cymru undertook 18 months of extensive consultation to ensure the National Vision was shaped by those it directly impacts. The process included workshops, listening events, school visits, and a public consultation survey. The findings highlighted the challenges faced in accessing care and the gaps between policy and practice.
Improvement Cymru’s Learning Disability programme has driven forward the delivery of the Welsh Government’s Learning Disability Strategic Action Plan (2022-2026). It has played a key role in supporting NHS Wales to improve patient safety for people with a learning disability.
Get in touch
If you have any further enquiries or would like to know more about the NHS Executive’s Learning Disability programme, please contact: improvementcymru_ld@wales.nhs.uk