Count Us In Meeting

The Count Us In Development Workers held their first meeting together to talk about and share information on different topics about sexuality, relationships and related issues. Several different organisations took part as well as individuals who spoke about their own experiences in respect to their sexuality. It is often the view of non-disabled people that we are non-sexual human beings - oh how wrong they are - our sexuality is a very important part of us - however because many disabled people find themselves excluded from mainstream life it can lead to being excluded from being able to develop sustainable relationships. We have the right to choose our relationships, whether they are gay, lesbian, bi-sexual or straight. Are you able to go into your local organisation and find information about groups run and controlled by disabled lesbians or gay men, or information about being a disabled parent? Information about same sex relationships for people with learning difficulties?

BCODP has two National Member organisations

• Regard, who can be contacted at Unit 2J Leroy House, 436 Essex Road, Islington N1 3QP, or e-mail regard@dircon.co.uk, www.regard.dircon.co.uk Telephone 0207 688 4111 Fax 0207 266 4114. Regard is run by and for Disabled lesbians and gay men to provide a charter of rights for the lesbian and gay communities and provide an information service.
• Gemma who can be contacted at BM Box 5700, London WC1N 3XX or through e-mail at gemmagroup@hotmail.com. Gemma reaches out to isolated disabled lesbian and bisexual women. They enable women to make links and share information. Gemma provides information on other lesbian groups and services in accessible formats.

If you want a list of the organisations who attended the conference, or provided information, please contact Sandy or Vicki at the BCODP offices and we can supply you with contact details. BCODP would like to say thank you to all those people who brought information and to those individuals who took their time to let us know about their experiences.

The Count Us In project has supported several groups of Black and Minority Ethnic disabled people. However, it also exists to ensure other pushed out groups also receive support. If you want to develop a group in the London area, of disabled lesbians, gay men, and bi-sexual people contact Jimmy Telesford, call at GLAD, Telephone 020 7346 5800, Fax 020 7346, e-mail glad@btinternet.com.

© Copyright British Council of Disabled People 2002