Learning Disability Week 2021

We are proud to celebrate Learning Disability Week 2021

 

Learning Disability Week #LDWeek2021 is a great way to raise the awareness of learning disability across the UK.

For many people with a learning disability and their families, getting creative has been a way to stay connected and positive through the challenges of last year.

For Leeds Learning Disability Week 2021 we’re celebrating that art and creativity on our social media pages! Use the hashtag #LDArtWeek and share your creations.

Getting involved in creativity and self-expression can help improve mental health and lead to greater community inclusion. And people with a learning disability deserve to be better represented in the creative world – there is so much talent out there!  #CelebrateDiversity

We hope you enjoy taking part in some arty activities this week! Get started with a Mencap Activity Pack.

We’re very grateful as always to our lovely LD service users and supported living residents for their contributions.

Here’s a quick overview and links to blogs and activities in Leeds for LD Week:

  • Keep Calm and Carry On : DIY party nights and lots of glitter! A fab picture story showing the creativity from residents in one of our supported living houses at their themed lockdown gatherings
  • Getting arty in respite care : a selection of photos from crafts with service users in LD respite care at Woodland Square
  • Emily and Fran’s word clouds : a poster created by two Psychology Interns who have been doing placements with the Community Learning Disability Team
  • Jacob’s story – a touching blog from our new chaplain Sam about his time spent working in a community in Florida for people with learning disabilities and how faith and creative therapies can help people heal
  • Through The Maze features a range of activities in Leeds to get involved with during Leeds LD Week. Through The Maze are an information and signposting service in Leeds for adults with learning disabilities, family carers and professionals. You can follow them on Twitter @ThroughTheMaze.
  • Wonderful World is a film that was made for the NHS 70th birthday featuring some of our service users. You can celebrate the NHS 73rd birthday on Monday 5th

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The Head of Operations for Learning Disability Services, Peter Johnstone said:

“Learning Disability Week is such an important time where we can all raise awareness and celebrate all the good things about learning disability.

 “Clearly there is still stigma and discrimination that we always hope to address and challenge on weeks like this but it is so important that we do this positively by sharing stories and promoting the fantastic contributions that people make.

“This year’s theme is Art and Creativity which has been so important over the past year as a way of people expressing themselves, staying connected and having fun.

“As a provider of NHS services to people with learning disabilities in Leeds we are proud to support #LDWeek2021and look forward to all the creativity that is going to be shared.”
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Our Health Facilitation Team

For #LDWeek our Health Facilitation Team will be sharing how they work together with other NHS services in Leeds. This work supports better health care to meet the needs of people with a learning disability.

You can get involved in #LDWeek2021, ask questions and follow the team on Twitter to find out more about all the fantastic work they do @Get_Checked_Out

Here’s the lowdown on their tweets for the week:

Monday 14th June – a new film is being created on Monday to show how teams work together and also to showcase their work on the ‘Being Me’ strategy.

Tuesday 15th June – how the team are working to improve access to care early to reduce the admission rates into general hospital.

Wednesday 16th June – find out all about @Easy on the I our easy read information design service.

Easy on the I empowers our service users by providing health information in a format that they can understand and engage with. Find out more on their website.

Thursday 17th June – how we are working with Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust to get future investment for a clinic to continue to provide hearing tests for people with a learning disability.

Friday 18th June – support and engagement with Behind Closed Doors – a Leeds service who support people experiencing domestic violence.

More information about recent projects

Recent projects have been aimed at supporting health equality and inclusion:

  • Restore2 mini project – a simple but very effective way to determine deterioration in people who may not report ill health by communicating until it is too late to effect a positive health outcome
  • Shoebox audiometry – working with Leeds Teaching Hospital audiology department to implement  NICE guidelines to support hearing tests that are adapted for people with a learning disability
  • COVID vaccination programme for people with a learning disability. Working with city wide partners in health and social care to ensure that the vaccination offer is appropriate for people with a learning disability. This includes providing information to support the patient to be fully informed about their choices about the vaccine.
  • Move More – working with Public Health England and Active Leeds to build a project supporting people to recover from post-lockdown mobility/exercise issues. It’s a simple project to encourage people to challenge themselves or their friends to increase the amount they move week by week.Even a little bit more movement is positive. This project includes people who are wheelchair users to track arm movements. It doesn’t have to be an expensive gym. Dusting, walking an extra bus stop, hoovering, or dancing whilst brushing our teeth all count towards increasing our movement.Moving more and other forms of exercise are also known to have a positive impact upon mental wellbeing too.

To find out more about LYPFT Learning Disability Services visit the new dedicated website.

You can also watch a film about the Health Facilitation Team.