The Learning Disability and Autism Leaders' List 2018

Nominations are now open for The Learning Disability and Autism Leaders’ List 2018

Dimensions UK have partnered with Learning Disability England, VODG and the Guardian newspaper to create The Learning Disability and Autism Leaders’ List 2018, the UK’s first national listing of people with learning disabilities and/or autism who are helping make things better for themselves and others.

They are looking for stories from people who have learning disabilities and/or autism who are making a difference and getting involved:

• in their local community
• at a national level
• in sports, art or entertainment
• in jobs and education

Two winners will also be selected for the Young Leader (under the age of 30) and Lifetime Achievement awards.

Up to 60 winning stories will make up the Leaders’ List, in four categories:

• changing communities
• advocacy, policy and the media
• sports, arts and entertainment
• work and education

Less than 6% of people with learning disabilities and 16% of people with autism are in work. People with learning disabilities die 20 or more years before their non-learning disabled counterparts. Three quarters of people with autism and learning disabilities experience hate crime. And yet, across the country, people with learning disabilities and autism are advocating to make life better by changing national policy and practice, and entrenched social attitudes. They are spokespeople, lobbyists, experts by experience. They are actors and singers. They are film makers, receptionists, DJs. Society may not yet have heard of them, but they gradually through their persistence making a difference. We believe that recognising and sharing their achievements will help change society faster, and ultimately bring about positive change.

If you have a learning disability and/or autism you can share your story. If you know someone with a learning disability and/or autism you can nominate them. The Learning Disability and Autism Leaders’ List 2018 will be published on the International Day of Disabled Persons in December.

The top-60 list will be published in the Guardian newspaper and on theguardian.com website, with interviews with 10 handpicked individuals. Also, everybody who shares their story (or is nominated by someone else) will receive a certificate thanking them for getting involved and celebrating their achievement.