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Call for communities to be
more learning disabilities and autism friendly
A local NHS Trust rated
'outstanding' for services for people with learning disabilities and/or
autism is celebrating Learning Disability Week that ends on 26 June, by
encouraging people to become more LD and Autism friendly. Around 21,000 people
have learning disabilities in the Cheshire and Wirral area, almost 2% of the
population. The annual awareness week, this year themed:- 'friendships and
relationships', aims to build community understanding of the everyday
challenges people with learning disabilities and/or autism face.
Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (CWP) Clinical Director, Dr
Mahesh Odiyoor, says:- "There is a big difference between learning
'difficulties' and learning 'disabilities' which are often confused. A learning
disability affects the way a person understands information and how they
communicate; it affects everyday life for the person and their family. Some
people can have multiple conditions such as epilepsy, other physical health
problems, Autism, and other developmental and mental health problems. There is
an urgent need to enhance support outside of hospital to enable people to live
more independently at home. We know everyone is unique and need different levels
of support at different times of their life. By working together with other
health and social care organisations, our aim is to provide people with a choice
of person centred services in the community to meet individuals' and their
families' specific needs."
Andy Styring, Director of Operations, says:- "As part of the Cheshire and
Merseyside Transforming Care Partnership, CWP is committed to developing
improved services with local people who access services, their families and
carers, and will play a key role in delivering new models of care and support."
CWP were recently rated as outstanding overall for services for people with
learning disabilities and/or autism, as well as outstanding for being caring and
responsive, by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).
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