Tag Archives: Learning difficulties

Don’t be afraid of asking for help

Don’t be afraid of asking for help – carer mum, Joyce

‘Help is there’ … Joyce Butters with her son, Paul.

Published on Tuesday 10 April 2012 12:30

UP until Paul Butters started school, his parents had no idea he was suffering from a learning disability due to a lack of oxygen at birth.

But after his diagnosis, Joyce became not just his mum but also his full-time carer.

Two of her three children have now left home, but at 42 Paul is still at the forefront of his mum’s mind.

“Everything I do I have to take Paul and his needs into consideration,” she said.

Charity cuts fear for those with learning disabilities

The Learning Disability Coalition is calling for urgent reform of the system
3 April 2012 Last updated at 18:10

People with learning disabilities are becoming isolated because of cuts to support and day services in England, says a joint report by 14 charities.

The Learning Disability Coalition said 77% of the local authorities it questioned were making cuts or savings and most expected to make further cuts.

The coalition said half of the 312 people surveyed said they now got less or no support, or paid more for help.

The government said urgent reform of the care and support system was needed.

Nurses will be given the chance to learn about Learning Disabilities

Rotation scheme boosts learning disability nurse recruitment

9 March, 2012 | By The Press Association

Newly-qualified nurses have been given the chance to specialise in learning disabilities as part of a new ‘rotation’ scheme in Hertfordshire.

The initiative has been introduced by Hertfordshire Partnership Foundation Trust (HPFT) to tackle a shortage of Learning Disability Nurses (LDNs).

Through links with local higher education institutes, the scheme allows nurses to experience a number of different specialist areas in their first year of employment, before deciding to focus on just one.