Wider Values

bemix believes that it is important to give people with learning difficulties and/or autism the opportunity to develop and explore their own morals and responsibilities in relation to the wider world. For many years, people with a learning difficulty and/or autism have not had the opportunity or education to be involved in politics or influencing the world around them. People have been segregated in groups with just one thing in common, that they have a learning difficulty and/or autism. The People First and Valuing People Now movements have helped people to fight for their rights and for personalised support to live the lives they choose. However, this has meant that some people have only had the opportunity to think about themselves, not about the wider society and world they live in.

In our experience, many people with a learning difficulty and/or autism who have been supported to think about their values naturally care about the lives of other people, animals and the environment they live in. Many people want to speak up for other groups facing injustice or that are not being treated equally. A key principle of bemix is that people with learning difficulties and/or autism should not be treated as needing charity. People with learning difficulties and/or autism have the power to effect positive change and should be valued. By working to achieve positive change for other, less powerful, groups, people with learning difficulties gain more power.

The 7 values below, set out what is important to us in bemix.  They are about how we work.  They are also things we believe are important when we work to influence wider society.  We believe these values are important for us to have a positive impact on the world and be part of something bigger.