This is TRAC's first blog, we talked at our last meeting about how we wanted to capture some of the key issues that we discuss and share with a wider audience. We agreed that a trial blog would be a good place to start. We hope that people with learning disabilities and those supporting them will read our blog and get in touch to find out more about what we do and share ideas for practice, research and education.
I am in charge of writing the blog but we will all contribute ideas. I am a lecturer and a learning disability nurse and I have recently joined the University of South Wales, taking over from my former colleague Victoria Jones who set up TRAC a long time ago, with the support of Professor Ruth Northway OBE and the Unit for Development in Intellectual Disabilities (UDID) this explains more: TRAC Poster.
Who are TRAC?
The Teaching Research Advisory Committee (TRAC) meet every month at the University of South Wales.
The committee is made up of men and women who have learning disabilities and their supporters, and is facilitated by me, and sometimes some of our learning disability student nurses.
The committee is consulted on key issues related to teaching and research about people with learning disabilities. Our members are able to influence the curriculum, they are involved in many things including the recruitment and assessment of student nurses.
TRAC members teach across the university and are often consulted with by agencies such as the Nursing and Midwifery Council, Public Health Wales and Welsh Gov.
Last year one of our committee members Lynne, received an honorary fellowship from the University in recognition of her hard work and service to the university.
What do TRAC do?
We often talk about the importance of meaningful inclusion. This article was written about TRAC and how important it is the people with learning disabilities are active as researchers and participants in research.
TRAC have been involved in inclusive research projects,
looking into abuse final report and there are links to easy read versions of reports that TRAC have been involved in: advocacy and the learning disability nurse, adults with learning disabilities presenting with dementia, being a family, death and dying and what's all the fuss about aging?
Where do our members come from?
www.caldicotpeoplefirst.org.uk
www.tpfirst.org.uk
www.rctpeoplefirst.org.uk
Blaenau Gwent People First
Caerphilly People First
and all groups link into All Wales People 1st
TRAC is always interested in welcoming new members and we have men and women of all ages involved who want to have their say on what happens to people with learning disabilities making their lives better.
What next?
Well, if TRAC like what this says then we will be sharing some of our discussion and links to more of our work through this blog!
Watch this space!
