It is very encouraging that the horizons for people with learning disabilities have widened, that they are much more in control of their lives and that there are many more opportunities for contributing to community life. There is a greater likelihood than in 1971 that people will be treated with dignity and respect.

That‟s the glass half full, but in the last 40 years, and very recently, there has been plenty of evidence of the same sort of poor quality care that we got worked up about all those years ago.

For the past 44 years BILD has championed people with learning disabilities and has been in the forefront of prompting and promoting improvements in good professional practice. I am proud that, for the last 20 years, I have been able to be a part of BILD.

Alan Jefferson
Chair of BILD Trustees