'''Enable Scotland''' (stylised as '''ENABLE Scotland'''; formerly the '''Scottish Society for the Parents of Mentally Handicapped Children'''<ref name="HeraldScotland2011">{{cite web | url=http://www.heraldscotland.com/comment/obituaries/catherine-shapter.13859243 | title=Catherine Shapter | publisher=Herald Scotland | date=June 7, 2011 | accessdate=April 25, 2012}}</ref> and '''Scottish Society for the Mentally Handicapped''') is a member-led charity based in Scotland that supports people who have learning disabilities and their families. Founded in 1954 they campaign for equal rights for people who have learning disabilities and also provide personalised services to assist them with various problems in their lives.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.enable.org.uk/aboutus/Pages/default.aspx |title=About Us |publisher=Enable Scotland |date=2010-05-23 |accessdate=2012-04-24 }}{{Dead link|date=December 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }}</ref> Typical difficulties addressed include access to employment, transportation, support for families, and help with finances.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.enable.org.uk/families/Getting%20around/Pages/default.aspx |title=Getting around |publisher=Enable Scotland |date=2010-05-23 |accessdate=2012-04-24 |archive-date=2012-01-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120114052057/http://www.enable.org.uk/families/Getting%20around/Pages/default.aspx |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.enable.org.uk/families/learningdisabilityinthefamily/Pages/default.aspx |title=In the family |publisher=Enable Scotland |date=2010-05-23 |accessdate=2012-04-24 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120114054048/http://www.enable.org.uk/families/learningdisabilityinthefamily/Pages/default.aspx |archivedate=2012-01-14 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.enable.org.uk/enableme/Pages/Money-matters.aspx |title=Money matters |publisher=Enable Scotland |date=2010-05-23 |accessdate=2012-04-24 |archive-date=2012-06-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120604102715/http://www.enable.org.uk/enableme/Pages/Money-matters.aspx |url-status=dead }}</ref> Enable Scotland also run the Scotland Employers Award.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.forfardispatch.co.uk/news/local-headlines/farm_on_shortlist_for_award_1_1903112 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120803085156/http://www.forfardispatch.co.uk/news/local-headlines/farm_on_shortlist_for_award_1_1903112 |url-status=dead |archive-date=2012-08-03 |title=Farm on shortlist for award |publisher=Forfar Dispatch |date=2011-10-15 |accessdate=2012-04-24 }}</ref> Theresa Shearer FRSE is the charity's current Chief Executive.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.enable.org.uk/about-us/who-we-are/our-ceo-and-executive-team#:~:text=Enable%20CEO,driven%20public%20services%20for%20citizens. | title=Our Executive Team }}</ref>
== History == The idea for a support organisation for children who have learning disabilities dates back to February 28, 1944, when a group of five parents met together in a Scottish living room. They planned to create an organisation to campaign for services in Scotland that would benefit children who have learning disabilities and their parents. Their first meeting was held in the education offices in Glasgow, and was an unexpected success; over 350 people attended from across Scotland.<ref name="HeraldScotland2011" /> The founding members included Catherine Shapter,<ref name="HeraldScotland2011" /> and the physicists Joan Curran and Samuel Curran.<ref name="Dalyell1999">{{cite web | url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/obituary-joan-curran-1071704.html | title=Joan Curran | work=The Independent | date=February 19, 1999 | accessdate=April 25, 2012 | author=Dalyell, Tim}}</ref>
== Campaigns ==
They received media attention in 2007 from an advertising campaign that compared people with learning disabilities to pets.<ref>{{cite web|author=MacDonald, Calum |url=http://www.heraldscotland.com/row-as-charity-posters-compare-disabled-to-pets-1.850831 |title=Row as charity posters compare disabled to pets |publisher=Herald Scotland |date=2007-01-11 |accessdate=2012-04-24}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/6247725.stm |title=Animals get greater charity share |publisher=BBC News |date=2007-01-10 |access-date=2012-04-24}}</ref> They were also featured on STV News for a campaign that highlighted the difficulties of elderly carers of disabled children.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.stv.tv/scotland/78862-charity-launches-campaign-for-older-carers/ |title=Charity launches campaign for older carers |publisher=STV News |date=2009-02-25 |accessdate=2012-04-24 |archive-date=2015-04-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402134945/http://news.stv.tv/scotland/78862-charity-launches-campaign-for-older-carers/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>
== Controversies ==
The charity received criticism over their personal data handling after the personal data of 101 people was lost in November 2011. They have since committed to improving their practices in this area.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dgstandard.co.uk/dumfries-news/scottish-news/2012/03/09/charity-loses-personal-details-51311-30497874/ |title=Charity loses personal details |publisher=Dumfries and Galloway Standard |date=2012-03-09 |accessdate=2012-04-24}}</ref>
== References == {{Reflist}}
== External links == * [http://www.enable.org.uk Official website]
Category:Charities for disabled people based in Scotland Category:Charities based in Scotland