Supporting people with learning disabilities
When seeking support for adults with learning disabilities, the first thing to understand is that the type and level of learning disabilities support needed will vary according to the unique requirements of the individual.
Person-centred learning disability support creates an individually tailored care and support plan which is bespoke to the individual, their needs, preferences and ambitions in life.
What support is available for individuals with learning disabilities?
Learning disability support can take many forms, including:
- support to build life skills and social skills.
- help to secure employment or voluntary placements.
- practical support with household tasks.
- financial support to understand how to manage household bills.
- assistance to move from child to adult care services at the age of 18.
- help to move on from a long-term hospital stay and learn to live independently.
- positive behaviour support to enable individuals to better communicate their needs and preferences.
- support during a period of personal crisis.
The intention of all forms of support for adults with learning disabilities is to empower and equip them to live a full and fulfilling life of their choosing.
How to support people with learning disabilities
The best way of supporting people with learning disabilities is to truly understand them.
Depending upon the severity of the individual’s learning disability, they may find it difficult to effectively communicate what they need and want, with the resulting frustration sometimes leading to behaviours which challenge them. This is why a person-centred approach to learning disability support is so important. This approach starts by understanding the individual, learning their likes, dislikes and ambitions, and putting them more in control of the learning disabilities support that they receive.
For example, a young adult with learning disabilities may have spent a long period of time in a hospital environment, missing out on opportunities to learn the life skills that would enable them to live in their own home, but desperate to gain their independence. Learning disabilities support which equips them with the skills and knowledge they need to live independently, behind their own front door but with support at hand, would empower that individual to feel more in control of their life and choices, and remove some of the frustration they may have been experiencing.
Another individual may have a passion that they would like to pursue as a job but are struggling to secure any voluntary or paid experience in that area. For instance, they may enjoy cooking and want to work in a catering environment, but perhaps they need support to complete an application form, or to feel better equipped with the social skills they will need in a work environment. Learning disabilities support can help with this, too.
The right support for learning disabilities addresses the barriers that the individuals face to living the life they choose, enabling and equipping them with the skills, confidence and practical support they need to succeed and achieve.
Support for people with learning disabilities, autism or acquired brain injury
Our Realise team are experts in providing individually-tailored care and positive behaviour support for people with learning disabilities, autism or acquired brain injury. Find out more about the Realise team, and the empowering, person-centred support they provide.
