John Hersov

John Hersov has worked extensively in the field of Advocacy for people who have learning disabilities for over 25 years as an independent freelance consultant and facilitator.
His speciality has been to work with people with learning disabilities, exploring together the ways they would like to see things develop and change in their own lives, and identifying the most effective (formal and informal) organisational structures for these views to be represented.

He has been involved with the development of the self advocacy movement in the UK since the early 1980s. This included supporting the Mencap London Division Participation Forum from 1982 -1990 which ran conferences and circulated videos of their work around the country; being one of the co-supporters of London People First from its beginnings in 1984; and facilitating self advocacy workshops and conferences across the UK for more than 20 years.

From 1981 -1998, his spiritual home was the City Lit Adult Education Institute in Central London where he taught "Speaking Up" classes for adults with learning difficulties, which now feel like "a conversation about life that lasted 18 years!" Just this week at the London Regional Forum, John encountered a former student of his for the first time in about 25 years. They each remembered each other, which was pleasing!

He has worked with statutory and voluntary organisations at a national and local level -in adult social care, social services, housing, health, education and self advocacy. The work has included staff training, supporting service user involvement, working with community based groups, chairing advisory groups and conferences, supporting the work of Partnership Boards, producing reports and contributions for publication.

Organisations with whom John has developed significant working relationships over time include the Valuing People Team in the London Region), Welmede Housing Association, NIACE, VIA, Swindon People First and Camden People First.

On a national level, John was hired as one of the supporters of the Department of Health User Group that contributed significantly to the White Paper "Valuing People" in 2001.John supported the National Forum of People with Learning Difficulties until 2002, and in October 2008 renewed this connection as a member of the Centrevents team.

Publications include: in 2001 "Deciding Together -Getting Control of My Life" (as a member of the Kings College London Project Team). In 1996 "New Voices: Self Advocacy by People with Disabilities" - writing a chapter on the early years of the self advocacy movement in Great Britain. In 1989 "Patterns for Living: Working Together -P555M Open University (as a member of the Course Team). In 1986 "We Can Change the Future" (NBHS) co authored (with Deborah Cooper) -one of the earliest staff training resources on self advocacy.

John is also a member of the "Sing for Joy" Choir , a user led (and mixed) group set up in 2003 by people with Parkinson's Disease, MS and other neurological conditions and has recently introduced a Bruce Springsteen song to its repertoire.