Since the Coronavirus (COVID-19) lockdown began in March, SCLD has been considering the impact on people with learning/intellectual disabilities and our response. To help us do this, SCLD created two surveys, one for people with learning/intellectual disabilities and one for their parents, carers and supporters. The surveys were distributed during April – May 2020 and collected 350 responses; 127 from people with learning …
Neil, a man with a learning disability and multiple long-term health conditions, tells us of his experience of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, and what he thinks needs to change to make things better for people with learning disabilities. My name is Neil, I am a man living in Scotland. I have learning disability, dyslexia, type 2 diabetes, and asthma. I live …
In recognition of Scottish Learning Disability Week and Mental Health Awareness Week, Eddie McConnell, Chair of SCLD and Chief Executive of Down’s Syndrome Scotland, shares a letter to his son Finlay… Dear Finlay, How are you today? I ask, because I noticed that you put your birthday cards back up in your room eight weeks after we celebrated your …
SCLD’s Implementation & Involvement Officer, Catriona Rowley, writes about why the concept of ‘Social Capital’ has become increasingly important during the COVID-19 pandemic, and why it impacts on people with learning/intellectual disabilities… “The first part of the year is always busy at SCLD, and a commonly uttered comment is ‘”we’ll pick that up after Learning Disability Week”‘. This year Scottish …
We are delighted to announce that The Mungo Foundation is the winner of our ‘Make your own Uno’ Competiton! Uno the Unicorn is SCLD’s Scottish Learning Disability Week mascot who was designed by Stephen Dickson, as part of a competition we ran back in Learning Disability Week 2018. The Mungo Foundation’s entry was chosen by artists from Project Ability and …
It’s Scottish Learning Disability Week and this year the theme is ‘My Environment – My place, my planet’, which is all about how people with learning disabilities should be included in helping their local environment, and in wider debates around key issues such as climate change. SCLD is delighted to announce that we have been working in partnership with the …
Our newest member of the SCLD team, Evidence & Policy Intern, Matthew, introduces himself and tells us what it has been like to start a new job from your own home… “My name is Matthew Muirhead and I am the new Evidence and Policy intern here at SCLD. I’m originally from Falkirk and I studied at the University of Glasgow, …
SCLD’s Engagement & Influencing Manager, Kenneth Fleming, writes about why holding Scottish Learning Disability Week is more relevant now than ever in this time of global crisis… “On one level, it seems strange to be thinking about an awareness week with a focus on the environment, when our environments are smaller than ever. It is odd to think about coming together to celebrate the …
The University of Glasgow, with assistance from colleagues at Lancaster University, the University of Oxford and the University of Warwick, have published a series of guided self-help booklets developed to support people with mild to moderate learning/intellectual disabilities during the COVID-19 outbreak. The booklets can be used with the support of family members, friends, volunteers and carers and are also suitable for social work and health …
SCLD’s Policy & Implementation Officer Oonagh Brown writes about the risk to the human rights of people with learning disabilities during the COVID-19 emergency… Over the last few weeks, there have been concerns expressed across the UK by disabled people and those who represent them about how decisions will be made concerning disabled people’s health care and treatment during the Coronavirus emergency. It is also becoming clear that …