Learning Disabilities
How you can be supported in your role caring for someone with a learning disability
With 1.5 million people in the UK with a learning disability support for the parents, siblings, grandparents and friends supporting these people is essential.
People with a learning difficulty take longer to learn and may need support to develop new skills, understand complicated information and interact with other people. It is a lifelong condition, but their needs may vary over time, and a learning difficulty may coexist with other needs such as mobility issues or health conditions such as epilepsy.
A Carer may need to be an advocate, a cook, driver and cheerleader, and learn new information and skills as their Cared for’s needs and situation changes. This can lead to feelings of isolation, fatigue and frustration, and Carers often neglect their own needs.
There are other very useful services which can provide key facts and resources for you and your cared for. We have a few of these resources below to download. For more resources and further sign posting please contact Anita Goveas or Tom Shah.
The Wandsworth Learning Disability Health team provide support around the physical and mental health for adults with a diagnosed Learning Difficulty e.g. speech therapy, physiotherapy
Thrive online provide information about the services available for 0-25 year olds with a learning difficulty
Social care provide advice support and guidance through reviews for your Cared For and Carer’s assessments for Carers. For more information on Carer’s assessments please click here.
Enable provide information about activities and sports available for people with Learning Difficulties.
We run a monthly peer support group for learning disability Carers. Click the button below for more info.
Kooth is there for you for advice, support and guidance on a range of issues such as stress or anxiety, worries about returning to college, fears about what the world looks like now, dealing with difficult family relationships, struggling with loss and much more.
It’s a free online chat service that works on both your smart-phone and computer. There are no waiting lists and it’s totally anonymous – you can just make up a name. And, you can freely and openly discuss any concerns that you may have, through the wide range of services that Kooth offers.