31st May 2021 marks the tenth anniversary of the appalling Winterbourne View scandal. The scandal shone a light on the potential of abuse of people with learning disabilities living in Assessment and Treatment Units (ATUs). Most shockingly of all, the fact that the abuse was not detected by inspectorates. Since the broadcast of the BBC … Continued
People with a learning disability are more likely to experience poor mental health than the general population. To mark Mental Health Awareness Week we have brought together many useful resources about mental health and well-being for people with a learning disability – including easy read guides and helpful organisations. Mental ill-health is common, affecting one … Continued
Learning Disability Wales is excited to announce we are teaming up with major UK rock band IDLES for an online fundraiser for our Gig Buddies Cymru project. Read an easy read version of this news story (PDF) The online fundraising gig is being organised by IDLES bassist Adam ‘Dev’ Devonshire to raise funds for Gig … Continued
We are very pleased to announce some recent staff changes at Learning Disability Wales, covering our work on policy, research, communications and innovative projects. Cath Lewis – Senior Policy and Research Officer At the end of March we welcomed Cath Lewis to our Policy and Communications team as Senior Policy and Research Officer. Cath started … Continued
The 2021 Senedd election will be held on Thursday 6 May 2021 to elect 60 members to the Welsh Parliament. We have compiled the easy read manifestos that have been produced so far by the main political parties in Wales, as well as an easy read guide to voting in the Senedd election. Easy read manifestos The following … Continued
Reform of the special educational needs system in Wales passed a significant milestone on 23 March when the new Additional Learning Needs (ALN) Code and regulations were approved by the Senedd. Why is this important? Although the Additional Learning Needs and Education Tribunal (Wales) Act was passed in 2018, it’s taken time to work out … Continued
Adults with a learning disability across the UK have experienced a major reduction in access to some care and support services, such as annual health checks and contact with a social worker, during the coronavirus pandemic. Over 60% of people with learning disabilities who had routinely seen healthcare professionals before the first lockdown in March … Continued
An updated report from Improvement Cymru, part of Public Health Wales, suggests that people in Wales with learning disabilities are more likely to die from Coronavirus than the rest of the population. The report ‘COVID-19-related deaths in Wales amongst People with Learning Disabilities’ analysed existing data from 1 March to 19 November 2020. The study … Continued
Welsh Government have set out guidance that will result in more people with a learning disability being included in priority group 6. This article explains who will be included, how people will be identified, where people will go for the vaccine, what happens next, advice and support (including easy read) and organisations that have … Continued
Some people with a learning disability are more than six times as likely to die from coronavirus as the general population and we are asking for specific adjustments to be made to protect those most at risk. The Learning Disability Consortium needs your help to ask for these changes. The Learning Disability Consortium* is made up … Continued
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