Magazine June 2019

Learning Disability Week
Can you imagine how your life would be different if you had a
learning disability? How would it affect you and the lives of the
people you love?
Maybe you’d find it more difficult to live independently? Perhaps
everyday tasks that we all take for granted; like cooking, keeping
clean or going out to socialise with friends, would be something
you could no longer do.
You might be like one-third of people
with learning disabilities who, on a
typical Saturday, spend less than 1
hour outside their home. Maybe you’d
soon feel alone and cut off from others,
like 17.8% of people with a learning
disability do.
Whoever you were, wouldn’t it be nice
to know that there were people out
there who cared, and who you could
rely on to make things just that little bit
easier?
The charity, Mencap, does just that, and
leads the way in helping people with
learning disabilities feel included and
get the help they need.
For parents and carers of children with
learning disabilities, getting an initial
diagnosis; dealing with healthcare
professionals and the child’s special
educational needs (SEN); and sorting
out childcare or portage (a homebased,
early intervention and support
service), can be a difficult and isolating
time. That’s why awareness weeks and
inclusion events are more important
than ever.
There are 1.4 million people in the
UK with a learning disability and
approximately 193,707 children of
school age. There are some conditions
where people are more likely to have an
associated learning disability such as;
What is a learning disability?
According to Mencap, a learning
disability is “a reduced intellectual
ability and difficulty with everyday
activities” such as household tasks,
socialising or managing money – 3
things that often cause the most
problems.
It is often confused with learning
difficulties, such as those experienced
by people with dyslexia or some mental
health problems. However, learning
difficulties do not affect people’s
intellect, whereas learning disabilities
do. Learning disabilities are usually
caused by problems when the brain
is still developing during pregnancy,
in birth or in the first few months of
life. The level of disability can be mild,
moderate, severe or profound, and
affects people for their whole life as
they can take longer to learn and may
need additional support to interact
with others, understand information or
develop new skills.
• Down’s syndrome
• Williams syndrome
• Asperger’s syndrome
• Autism
• Fragile X syndrome
• Global development delay
• Cerebral palsy
• Challenging behaviour
The degree of disability varies greatly
and children with a learning disability
will have special educational needs,
although not all people with SEN have a
learning disability.
Learning Disability Week 2019
The week runs from 17th to 23rd June
and this year, is all about sport and
inclusion. The goal for the week is for
as many people as possible – those with
and without a learning disability – to get
involved in inclusive sporting activities
in their local communities. Mencap is
encouraging everyone to share their
photos with them and raise awareness
by advertising the week on social media
sites using the hashtag #LDWeek19.
Sport is well known for bringing people
together, whether it’s the Olympics or a
local amateur football match, sport can
cross boundaries and create shared
memories. For those taking part, it can
reduce loneliness and isolation; improve
health and wellbeing; and allows for
greater social inclusion and a sense of
empowerment.
Another benefit is that it can help
improve and change negative attitudes
and prejudices which unfortunately still
exist towards many people with learning
disabilities – a much-needed change
that is fundamental to Mencap’s raison
d’être.
The Mencap website has information
and listings of many events around
the country that people are planning,
including an interactive map where
you can find out about events near
you. There’s still plenty of time to plan
your own event or attend one of those
already being advertised. There are
different categories, including:
• Treat me well events
• Network partner here we are local
events
• Royal Mencap Society events
• Round the world challenge activities
Not all settings will have children who
have learning disabilities, but that does
not stop everyone getting involved in
the week in some way. Children with
learning disabilities have the right to
early years childcare just like everyone
else and childcare providers, by law,
“must not deny disabled children access
to childcare because they are disabled”.
In addition, “providers must make sure
they try their best to meet the needs of
the children with a learning disability”.
How to get involved
You could raise money for the charity,
for example by doing something fun
and active, such as a sponsored football
match, walk/run or just a multi-activity
sports day.
You could set up a stand at your summer
fair to raise awareness; or set up some
fun and ‘sporty’ stalls such as a ‘shoot
a hoop’ challenge; a fastest-over-10-
metres race; or a good old-fashioned
egg and spoon race! Be creative and get
active!
If you have children in your setting with
learning disabilities, you could consider
The Round The World Challenge which
is run in partnership with Sport England
and The National Lottery. It’s a great way
to improve inclusion and get your whole
setting involved whilst teaching your little
ones something about the world at the
same time. You can register here. and
there are events in different regions run
by specially-trained staff.
Mencap’s vision is a world where people
with learning disabilities are valued
equally, listened to and included, but
it’s clear that there is still a long way to
go for that vision to be realised in our
society.
What will you do this year in order to
bring their goal just that little bit closer?
For more information, click here.
10 Parenta.com June 2019 11