In 2000, Asist set up Reach, a speaking up group for people with learning disabilities in Stoke-on-Trent. Reach is part of Asist Community Advocacy.
- Reach Members speak up for themselves and for people with learning disabilities in Stoke-on-Trent as well as speaking up about their communities.
- Reach Members work together with Universities to make tools and resources that help people to communicate and speak up.
“In real life, a learning disability is when someone learns to do things slower. Someone may find it difficult to understand complicated words or to concentrate for a long time. But we can still do what other people do. Having a learning disability means I need help with some things, but I am a published author, a university speaker, an award winner and a peer researcher…”
Carl West, Reach Member, 2016.