The NDT was set up in 1976. At that time we were part of the Department of Health in London, and in many ways had a role that was similar to the work that the Valuing People Support Team now carries out.

We organised teams of professionals: nurses; psychiatrists, managers, social workers and psychologists to work with parents in visiting and reviewing services in England. Social Services and Health asked us for team visits and these took place mainly in long-stay hospitals, hostels, day-centres and with community teams.

In 1992 we became an independent, not-for-profit agency. There have been many changes to the staff group, but we now have a strong and growing team with a wide range of skills. The team includes people with backgrounds in health, social services, and the national voluntary sector, several with experience at senior management level. Two consultants know from personal experience what it is like to be a parent of a person with learning disabilities. and, wtih the appointment of our Director of Participation, the team now includes someone who knows what it's like to be labelled as a person with learning disabilities.

We are still working to improve services and our work today reflects the changes that have taken place over the last 20 years. We have growing experience of working directly with people with learning disabilities as self-advocates, consultants, policy advisers and trainers. Although the main focus of our work is still with policy and services for people with learning disabilities, we are now also concerned with services for people with mental health needs and other disadvantaged groups.