Learning Disabilities and Autism Service

The answer is that it’s different for every person who has one. But there are some things that are true for everyone with a learning disability, and some common (and not so common) conditions that will mean you have a learning disability.

A learning disability is a reduced intellectual ability and difficulty with everyday activities – for example household tasks, socialising or managing money – which affects someone for their whole life.

People with a learning disability tend to take longer to learn and may need support to develop new skills, understand complicated information and interact with other people.

The level of support someone needs depends on the individual. For example, someone with a mild learning disability may only need support with things like getting a job. However, someone with a severe or profound learning disability may need full­time care and support with every aspect of their life – they may also have physical disabilities.

People with certain specific conditions can have a learning disability too. For example, people with Down’s syndrome and some people with autism have a learning disability. (Mencap  https://www.mencap.org.uk/learning-disability-explained/what-learning-disability )

Autism is a lifelong developmental disability that affects how people perceive the world and interact with others.

Autistic people see, hear and feel the world differently to other people. If you are autistic, you are autistic for life; autism is not an illness or disease and cannot be ‘cured‘. Often people feel being autistic is a fundamental aspect of their identity.

Autism is a spectrum condition. All autistic people share certain difficulties, but being autistic will affect them in different ways. Some autistic people also have learning disabilities, mental health issues or other conditions, meaning people need different levels of support. All people on the autism spectrum learn and develop. With the right sort of support, all can be helped to live a more fulfilling life of their own choosing. (National Autistic Society http://www.autism.org.uk/about/what-is.aspx )

Under the Equality Act 2010, all disabled people have the right to reasonable adjustments when using public services, including healthcare. These adjustments remove barriers that disabled people would otherwise face in accessing these services. Making reasonable adjustments means ensuring disabled people have equal access to good quality healthcare.

Video: https://youtu.be/DMV06K1oanA

Resource: Reasonable adjustments for people with a learning disability in hospital

You may have a Hospital Passport or a My Health Passport. If you don’t have one you can complete a this at home or with support from your Community Learning Disability Nurse.

You should bring a copy with you into hospital to give to the doctors and nurses looking after you. It gives them important information about you, including any reasonable adjustments you need, and helps them make sure that all your needs are met.

Resource: Traffic Light Hospital Passport

Resource: My Health Passport

Resource: Health Passport Guide