An educational symposium looking into how young people with learning disabilities can integrate into adult life is taking place at Birmingham Hippodrome next month.
Moving On Up is part of the Hippodrome’s education programme in conjunction with Open Theatre Company.
Four out of five young people with mild or moderate learning disabilities are unemployed. The symposium asks the question: what more can the cultural sector do to support the transition and integration into adult life of young people with learning difficulties in Birmingham and beyond?
Liz Leck, the Hippodrome’s education and audience development manager, said, “We know that single-handedly we can’t change society. But we’re committed to offering a unique type of theatre practice that can give these young people more than a fighting chance to earn a living like the rest of us and make a valuable contribution in adult life.”
Keynote speaker will be Anna Kennedy OBE, the mother of two boys who are both affected by autism. In 1999, after she had been turned away by no fewer than 26 special schools, she decided to take matters into her own hands.
She remortgaged her home to transform a derelict council building into what is now a centre of excellence for children and young adults with autism.
Moving On Up will be held on Thursday 7 February. Further details are available from the Moving on Up web site.