Health Taster Session

Identify what a learning disability is and what it is not.

Discuss how good communication skills will assist patients who have a learning disability and receive some of Mencaps’ tips on communication.

Understand how information can be produced in accessible formats.

Raise awareness of what may be considered reasonable adjustments for people with a learning disability accessing their GP surgery.

Aims for the session

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Mencap’s definition says:

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 complex information and interact with other people.

The level of support someone needs depends on individual factors, including the severity of their learning disability.

What is a learning disability?

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We are all different

We all learn at different speeds.

Everyone is their own person.

A learning disability can be mild, severe or profound.

A learning disability lasts all your life. It is not an illness or disease that can be cured.

We are all different

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What does it mean to have a communication need?

It describes a range of difficulties and disabilities that people may have. That may include:

• Not being able to express yourself

• Not understanding information that is said to you

• Not understanding information that you read.

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A reasonable adjustment is a change that has

been made to a service so that people withlearning disabilities can use them like

anyoneelse.

The law says that health services and otherpublic services need to make reasonableadjustments.

This film on Reasonable Adjustments will provide a few tips to become more inclusive:

https://www.mencap.org.uk/reasonable-adjustments-video

What is a reasonable adjustment?

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Accessible information or easy read information help people with learning disability:

To understand information about their health

To become more independent

Help make choices about their own health

To exercise their right to be involved in their healthcare

This Easy Read Activity will help to improve your understanding of problems people with learning disability face in healthcare

Why Easy Read is important

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1. The information is not for you

2. Don’t worry about making things too simple

3. Ask people what they think

Good rules to remember

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www.mencap.org.uk/gptoolkitMencap’s online toolkit with lots of free templates and ‘how to’ guides for health professionals, to support you to make reasonable adjustments.

www.easyhealth.org.ukA website with lots of easy read health leaflets and booklets

For further information about Mencap’s work in healthcare, please get in touch with Rhea Sinha, Health Project Manager: Email: rhea.sinha@mencap.org.uk / ph: 079605 63530

Some Useful Resources

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Evaluation

Thank you for your time and interest!

Please take the time to fill in the evaluation form.

For more information you can visit Mencap’s website, on www.mencap.org.uk or you can contact Mencap direct on 0808 808 1111

Getting it right from the start - Health