We did a survey which asked people some important questions. We asked if people with a learning disability supported by United Response in England ever voted or got involved in politics.
About the project
The Every Vote! Counts project was set up because not many people with a learning disability vote in elections, get involved in politics or have a say in how the country is run.
We found out that many of the people United Response supports are registered to vote, but not many people actually vote in elections or get involved in other ways.
We asked people why they did not get involved.
They told us there was not much easy read information to help them understand how politics works, how it affects them and how they can get involved.
Support staff told us that without more information it was hard for them to support people to get involved.
We then worked with people with a learning disability and the people who support them. We made a pack to tell people about politics and how they can get involved.
We have now made a guide called Making Democracy Accessible.
We want this guide to encourage politicians and other people in politics to make information easy to read and accessible for people with learning disabilities.
United Response launched the Every Vote Counts! project in February 2007 with funding from the Electoral Commission. The project will finish in 2010.
