3. Equality and Diversity Policy and procedure. 1.2 This legislation and policies provides a framework to ensure that people with learning disabilities are treated with respect and dignity without violation of their civil and basic human rights. 2.1 The Department of Health, in Valuing People (2001), defines “Learning Disability” as: • Significantly reduced ability to understand new or complex information, to learn new skills • Reduced ability to cope independently which starts before adulthood with lasting effects on development. Learning Disabilities can also be defined as a variety of disorders that affect the acquisition, retention, understanding, organization or use of verbal and/or non-verbal information.
Some of these disabilities are caused by the parent not taking full care of themselves and the baby. When a parent or doctor notices that something is not right or that the children may have a disability intervention is needed as early as possible. Early intervention makes a big difference in a child’s life. When a parent accepts the fact that their child has a disabilities it can open up their eyes to see that there are many options available to help assist and even overcome certain disabilities. With early intervention there are many services that parents can use relating to their child’s disabilities.
Support Person Centred Thinking and Planning Person Centred Planning (PCP) is a method of supporting and working with individuals who have a learning disability. It empowers those with disabilities to take charge of the direction they would like their life to take. Having a learning disability does not necessarily mean that the person cannot achieve their own personal aspirations, goals in life, hopes and dreams and PCP places the individuals future in their hands first rather than the carer and outside agencies. PCP does not suit every individual some learning difficulties do make it hard for them to take control of their future and in these cases family and friends and people that are close to the service user should all have a valuable input in putting together a plan with the individual’s aspirations at its heart. Person Centred Planning is a method of supporting individuals and empowering them to take charge of the direction of their life and make goals which are achievable and ultimately lead to greater social inclusion and good quality of life in every aspect from good mental health to helping them achieve and overcome physical disabilities.
Unit 4222-245 Understand the context of supporting individuals with learning disabilities (LD 201) Outcome 1 Understand the legislation and policies that support the human rights and inclusion of individuals with learning disabilities 1. identify legislation and policies that are designed to promote the human rights, inclusion, equal life chances and citizenship of individuals with learning disabilities 2. explain how this legislation and policies influence the day to day experiences of individuals with learning disabilities and their families. Outcome 2 Understand the nature and characteristics of learning disability The learner can: 1. explain what is meant by ‘learning disability’ 2. give examples of causes of learning disabilities 3. describe the medical and social models of disability 4. state the approximate proportion of individuals with a learning disability for whom the cause is ‘not known’ 5. describe the possible impact on a family of having a member with a learning disability. Outcome 3 Understand the historical context of learning disability The learner can: 1. explain the types of services that have been provided for individuals with learning disabilities over time 2. describe how past ways of working may affect present services 3. identify some of the key changes in the following areas of the lives of individuals who have learning disabilities: • where people live • daytime activities • employment • sexual relationships and parenthood • the provision of healthcare. Outcome 4 Understand the basic principles and practice of advocacy, empowerment and active
Unit 4222-245 Outcome 1. Understand the legislation and policies that support the human rights and inclusion of individuals with learning disabilities 1. Identify legislation and policies that are designed to promote the human rights, inclusion, equal life chances and citizenship of individuals with learning disabilities * Mental Capacity Act 2005 * Human Rights Act 1998 (became law in 2000) * Care Standards Act 2000 * Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (amended 2005) * Equality Act 2010 * National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990 * Organisational and local policies and procedures * Codes of Conducts 2. Explain how these legislation and policies influence the day to day experiences of individuals with learning disabilities and their families Those with learning disabilities have the same fundamental rights as everyone else. However, getting a job, an education, going for a drink or to the cinema etc remains a struggle for them.
1.2 The influence that legislation and policies have on the day-to-day experiences of an individual with a learning disability and of their families is as follows i.e. covert discrimination; overt discrimination; harassment; rights; labelling; vulnerability; stereotyping; inclusion; prejudice; empowerment; abuse; opportunity and equality. 2.1 The meaning of learning disability means i.e. ‘an incomplete or state of arrested development of the mind’, an individual with a learning disability will have significant impairment of intellectual function/social and adaptive. Stages of learning disability can range from mild, moderate, severe and profound.
The children outlined above are the more typical examples someone might think of when we mention special educational needs. However, some children have needs that might not fall into these more obvious categories. Other examples could be gifted and talented children who might need additional support. There are also children who have illnesses that are not obvious by looking at them, but mean they have additional needs to other children. Some of these categories are as follows… • Speech or language impairments • Physical impairment i.e.
CCLD FP OP 3.3. Support children and young people with learning disabilities. 1. 2. A learning disability happens when a persons brain development is affected, either before they are born, during their birth or in early childhood.
Unit 245 – Understand the context of supporting individuals with learning disabilities. 2.1A condition giving rise to difficulties in acquiring knowledge and skills to the normal level expected of those of the same age. 2.2Genetics, brain injury or damage, Down’s syndrome, complications at birth, Cerebral Palsy or meningitis. 2.3Medical – This is defined by the individuals disability, the medical diagnosis and promotes the view that the individual is dependant on society and excludes the individual from ‘fitting in’. Social – Developed by disabled people.
Tassoni. P (2007) says that “we need to work as part of a team to provide a quality service for children and their parents”. We also need to work with the parents and show respect towards them and encourage parent’s involvement within the setting. Tassoni says that “early years setting will have a management structure which should clarify practitioner’s responsibilities”. A responsibility practitioners have is to make sure the health of the child is paramount this could be by preventing hazards and carrying out risk assessments and safety checks.