HELENSBURGH campaigners have said their fight for equal rights for residents with learning disabilities is still needed 70 years on.

Charity Enable Scotland said the recent coronation of King Charles III was a reminder of how much time has passed where those with learning disabilities are still at a disadvantage.

David Butler, a self-advocacy forum member with Enable Scotland, told the Advertiser that they still need public support for their fight for equal opportunities in areas such as education, health and employment.

He said "Living with a learning disability can be lonely. It can make you feel isolated, and you face barriers daily attempting to access the most basic of services.

"Seventy years is a long time to wait to witness a new monarch, but just imagine how it feels to be living with learning disabilities without the same rights as everyone else over the same period.

"In an effort to change this, we have launched our new Rights Now! campaign, which is calling for new laws to bring equality.

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"We believe there should be a new a commissioner role to hold public bodies to account to make sure our rights are protected and supported.

"Our campaign is backed by the findings of a new survey of people with learning disabilities and their families, with 97 per cent supporting a commissioner role being established to help tackle these problems.

"The Scottish Government has promised a new Bill to create this role but we are campaigning to ensure it wins cross party support in parliament."

He added: "If the readers of the Helensburgh Advertiser think 70 years is too long a wait, then please support and share our campaign to help us get our Rights Now!"

To find out more about the campaign, visit www.rightsnow.org.uk