Learning Disability & Autism Partnership Board The Learning Disability Partnership Board and Autism Partnership Board are two separate meetings which happen in Blackburn with Darwen to make sure that people with learning disabilities and people with autism lead fulfilling and rewarding lives. At the meetings you can: find out about what's going on for community members with a learning disability or with autism tell people what you think about local services help make services better for people with a learning disability or autism meet new people Learning Disability Partnership Board The Learning Disability Partnership Board brings people with learning disabilities, and their carers, together with service planners and providers from the public, private and voluntary sector. We do this to develop services that meet the needs of people with a learning disability in Blackburn with Darwen. The board will focus on creating positive change and addressing local priorities and issues. The job of the board is to listen to local people and their families and make sure councilors and elected members know the views of the local learning disability community when advising the council. The Learning Disability Partnership Board has sub groups who meet regularly. They meet to talk about the things which are important to people. Health Sub Group: A recent study has shown that people with learning difficulties die sooner due to problems with their health. The Health Sub Group are working to make sure that people with learning difficulties access better health services. Housing and Benefits: One in three people with a learning disability lives independently in supported accommodation (as a tenant or as a home owner) while one in four still live in registered care homes. The Housing and Benefit Sub Group are working to see how we can help to improve housing & benefits support. Employment and Inclusion: Recent figures show the UK employment rate for disabled people is 47.2%,compared with the rate for non-disabled people which is 80.3%. The government has set a target of halving the employment disability gap by 2020, which would mean an additional 1 million disabled people in employment. The Employment and Inclusion Sub Group are working to see what can be done to support this in Blackburn with Darwen. Autism Partnership Board Care Network works with InDiGo to co-deliver the Autism Partnership Board. Like the Learning Disability Board, the board meet so that the local autistic community have an opportunity to meet and discuss issues affecting them and to ensure that a collective voice is heard by key decision makers.