Welcome! The purpose of this bulletin is to keep you in touch with news from the learning disability world in a monthly digest. We hope to include information on the latest policy and research along with easy read information. If you have any requests for information or if you want to share with the Oxleas learning disability community please send them to Steve Hardy or Jill Davies.
If you would like to receive an email alert about future bulletins please send an email to Steve Hardy.
All links are written in blue or grey and worked on the 23rd May 2018.
Stories of the month
Save the future of Learning Disability Nursing!
Please sign this petition and share it for others to sign.
Fund Universities to explore new routes into Learning Disability Nursing - 11th May, Sean Ledington
5 ways to attract people into learning disability nursing
Exclusive: Half of learning disability nursing courses 'considering closure' - 9th May, Nursing Times
Need for campaign to halt slide in learning disability student nurses, says network leader - 8th May, Nursing Times
The LeDeR report and news about it
You have probably seen the news this month and this greatly saddened me. Then on May 15th the Can You Understand It? team were presenting at Learning Disability Today event in London. You see the LeDeR presenter was on before us and left easy read versions of the report. Sunny (member of the CYUI?) asked me 'what's that about'? I softened the news but then he asked 'how old are people with learning disabilities when they die'? Do you tell him its 29 years earlier than the wider population? Do I just keep to the facts? Well I told him and the look on his face. So what have the government or NHS England done since this report was published? Well I haven't seen anything, have you? I would like to invite an MP or even Jeremy Hunt to come and explain to the 'Can You Understand It?' team why they die so much younger and why has nothing improved when we have about these facts for years or even decades............
The Learning Disabilities Mortality Review Annual Report 2017 - LeDeR Team
LeDeR Programme: Progress update - 9th May, LeDeR Team
An open letter to Jeremy Hunt … - 13th May, Katherine RC
Are we really learning from preventable deaths? - Helen Cairn, Certitude
Enough is enough - making reasonable adjustments - Steve Hardy, ALDatOxleas
He wanted to live: Sister tells of anger over poor NHS care that 'robbed life' of brother who had learning difficulties - 4th May, ITV
Learning disabilities mortality review finds 'very troubling' levels of abuse and gaps in care - 8th May, Care Appointments
One in eight learning disabled deaths affected by service failures, report finds - 11th May, Community Care
And to finish with a positive story of the month....
Blogs
Boy with Asperger’s Gives the Natural History Museum a Lesson on Dinosaurs - Elizabeth Nelson, The Autism Site
5 Things I Want You to Know About Being an Autistic Person - Karli Slomka, The Mighty
10 Autism Parenting Experiences That Will Make You Say “Yup, That’s Basically My Life” - A. Stout, The Autism Site
Amidst The Noise This Mental Health Awareness Week, There’s One Voice You Might Not Hear - Prof Dame Sue Bailey
Are our assumptions about autism and AAC all wrong? - Kit Albrecht, Assistive Ware
Don't judge a book by its cover - Matthew Lager, TASH
Dual diagnosis: learning disability and mental health - Gemma Miller, Learning Disability Today
Everyone with ASD Is Different. But These 21 Experiences Are Familiar to Many Autism Families - A. Stout, The Autism Site
Girls with autism flying under the radar but new guidelines could help doctors with diagnosis - Emma Taylor, ABC
How Art Therapy Is Helping Children with Autism Express Themselves - Autism Baydarkh
“I’m Scared That I’m Going to Die Before Liam Can Live Independently:” This Dad’s Account Is So Raw - The Autism Site
It all made sense when we found out we were autistic - BBC
John and Sunny presentation to the Nursing Direcorate Makaton Friendly DJ Jay Entertainer - Jake Glennon, ALDatOxleas
Making our own music again - Chris Hatton
‘My Son Has Autism and a Purposeful Life’ - Autism Baydakh
Promoting the right to health for older people with learning disabilities - Ruth Northway, University of South Wales
Richard's story - ALDatOxleas
This Boy Is Graduating High School Even Though He Can Barely Write a Sentence - Elizabeth Nelson, The Autism Site
Keeping well event! - ResearchNet, ALDatOxleas
Why did I decide to become a Learning Disability nurse? - Lauretta Ofulue, University of Northampton
7 Things Not to Say to the Parent of a Child With Sensory Processing Disorder - Brian Bell, The Mighty
Books
Out now
10 Rules for Ensuring People with Learning Disabilities and Those Who are on the Autism Spectrum Develop 'Challenging Behaviour': ...And Maybe What to Do About it by Damian Milton
10 rules for ensuring autistic people and people with learning disabilities cannot access healthcare by Viki Ainsworth and Jim Blair
A mismatch of salience by Dr. Damian Milton
AUTISM UNCENSORED: Pulling Back the Curtain - Whitney Ellenby
Autism in a Decentered World - Alice WexlerAutism and Intellectual Disability in Adults Volume 2 - Dr. Damian Milton and Prof. Nicola Martin
Behavior Support for Students with ASD: Practical Help for 10 Common Challenges - Debra Leach
Cognitive Behaviour Therapy for People with Intellectual Disabilities: Thinking creatively - Andrew Jahoda et al
Citizenship Inclusion and Intellectual Disability: Biopolitics Post-Institutionalisation - Niklas Altermark
Difference Not Disorder: Understanding Autism Theory in Practice - Dr. Catherine HarveMaking friends at work: Learning to make positive choices in social situations for people with autism - Saffron Gallup
Person-centred Active Support Training Pack (2nd Edition) - Julie Beadle-Brown, Bev Murphy and Jill Bradshaw
Sexuality and Learning Disabilities (2nd edition) - Dr Claire Bates
Successful Health Screening through Desensitisation for People with Learning Disabilities - Lisa Harrington and Sarah Walker Safeguarding Adults: Key Themes and Issues - Gillian MacIntrye and Ailsa Stewart
Forthcoming books
13th June 2018
Social Survival: A Manual for those with Autism and Other Logical Thinkers - Amy Eleftheriades
21st June 2018
A Guide to Programs for Parenting Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder, Intellectual Disabilities or Developmental Disabilities: Evidence-Based Guidance for Professionals - John R Lutzker et al
21st June 2018
Successful Social Stories™ for Young Adults with Autism: Growing Up with Social Stories - Siobhan Timmins
1st July 2018
I Am Me: My Personal Journey with My Forty Plus Autistic Son - Marlene Ringler
1st July 2018
Belonging and Social Inclusion for People with Intellectual Disabilities - Iva Strnadova
22nd January 2019
Autism Spectrum Disorder Assessment in Schools - Laura Dilly and Christine Hall
18th April 2019
The Moulster and Griffiths Nursing Model: A Framework for Learning Disability Nursing Practice - Gwen Moulster et al
1st January 2020
An Introduction to Intellectual Disabilities - Mary Beirne-Smith and James R. Patton
Can You Understand It! Team News
The Can You Understand It? team are delighted that they wrote the first chapter for 'Learning Disability Today' - 4th edition! The chapter is entitled 'What does having a learning mean to us?'. Buy the book here.
Courses
NEW! Autism Awareness Diploma Course - Centre of Excellence
NEW! Transforming learning disability services - Online course from NHS England
MSc Ageing Health & Wellbeing in Intellectual Disability - Trinity College Dublin
MSc Developmental Disorders - University of Nottingham
MSc Disability Studies: Inclusive Theory and Research - University of Bristol
MSc/PDip Intellectual Disability Nursing - AIT, Ireland
MSc in Intellectual Disability Nursing Practice - DCU Ireland
MSc Psychology and Learning Disability - University of Portsmouth
PCert, PDip, MA Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities - The Tizard Centre, University of Kent
PGDip/MSc Adults with Learning Disabilities who have Significant and Complex Needs – Distance Learning - St Andrews University
Easy Read
A family at work - Books Beyond Words
A Good Day's Work - Books Beyond Words
Choosing My First Job - Books Beyond Words
Glory Wants a Job - Books Beyond Words
Events
23rd May 2018, Dublin, Ireland
Enacting advocacy in intellectual disability nursing: developing guidelines for practice
24th May 2018, Niagara Falls, USA
30 Years of Awareness- 2018 Developmental Disability Awareness Day Conference
7th - 8th June 2018, London
Jack Tizard Memorial Lecture and Conference – Expert analysis, new research: what works
12th June 2018, London
Best practice in supporting parents with learning disabilities
21st June 2018, Crawley
Kent, Surrey & Sussex Learning Disability Community of Practice conference
22nd June 2018, Cambridge
Sensory Lexicon
29th June 2018, Manchester
Sensory Lexicon
5th - 6th July 2018, London
The Super Sensory Lexicon
9 - 10 July 2018, Manchester
The Patient Safety Congress
13th July 2018, Nottingham
Sensory Lexicon
28 November 2018, London
Learning Disability Today Exhibition and Learning Day
Guidance and resources
Brilliant Site! People with learning disabilities: making reasonable adjustments - Gov.UK
Autism guidance for health professionals - National Autistic Society
Blood tests for people with learning disabilities: making reasonable adjustments - Public Health England
Care and support of people growing older with learning disabilities - NICE
Learning Disability, Autism and Human Rights - accessible booklet produced by British Institute of Human Rights
Making reasonable adjustments to postural care services - Gov.UK
Married – but without the capacity to consent to sex? - 21st April, Community Living
Postural care and people with learning disabilities - Gov.UK
Tips for Tackling Toothbrushing in Children With Oral Sensitivities - The Mighty
Journals
Advances in Mental Health and Intellectual Disabilities
Autism Journal
Autism Parenting Magazine
British Journal of Learning Disabilities
Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities
Journal of Intellectual Disabilities and Offending Behaviour
Journal of Intellectual Disability Research
Journal of Policy and Practice in Intellectual Disabilities
Learning Disability Practice
PMLD Link
Tizard Learning Disability Review
News concerning people with learning disabilities and/or autism
10 Percent of Walgreens’ Workforce Is Now Employees with Disabilities - The Autism Site
Alaska will no longer allow workers with disabilities to be paid less than minimum wage - 20th Feb, Think Progress
Autistic man Ashley Peacock remains locked up a year on - New Zealand Herald
Coffee shop hiring people with disabilities is ‘human rights movement,' owner says - 7th April, Fox 29
Disability & services give voice to people with learning disabilities - 9th April, Options, Thailand
Disabled boy sent home in agonising pain as Bristol Children's Hospital had 'wrong bed' - 18th May, Bristol Live
Disability hate crime reports surge but victims may not even be aware it is an offence - 9th April, Bristol Live
Employable Me: the ABC's brutally honest portrait of job hunting with a disability - 3rd April, The Guardian
Gary Numan: ‘Eye contact is something I find incredibly difficult’ - 28th April, The Guardian
Hollyoaks casts actress with autism Talia Grant in major role - 23rd April, Radio Times
How inclusive is Croydon? An interview with Club Soda- an organisation run by people with learning disabilities- Aditi Rammohan Croydon High School - 30th April, Local London
Judge gives Leeds NHS bosses go-ahead for C-section on pregnant woman with learning disabilities - 10th May, Yorkshire Post
Leeds museum’s new sculpture is inspired by industrial past - 30th April, Yorkshire Evening Post
Leicestershire parents create brilliant video to Pharrell Williams' Happy for National Autism Awareness Day - 7th April, Leicester Mercury
Man died after choking on sausage and mash at Sheppey care home - 2nd May, Kent Live
Mum says autistic son was thrown off bus for not looking like his photo ID - 15th May, Gazette Live
People growing older with learning disabilities should get regular health checks, says NICE - 11th April, NICE
Plymouth people with autism losing their benefits because of new test - 10th April, The Herald
RNIB and subsidiary under investigation over abuse allegation - 5th April, The Guardian
Scheme helps people with learning disabilities to become independent travellers - 16th May, Eastern Daily Press
'Sesame Street' theme park becomes world's first to get certified autism designation - 3rd April, Cincinnati.com
'Sarah is part of my family’: the house-sharing scheme for vulnerable adults - 18th May, The Guardian
Sport IS for all...and disability is just part of the challenge - 1st April, Daily Gazette
Stay Up Late’s call to business - 9th April, The Argus
What life is really like for families living with autism in Liverpool - 8th April, Echo
Voter ID Reforms Could Take Away My Vote - 3rd May, HuffPost
Reports
Hidden in plain sight: dementia and learning disability - The Foundation for People with Learning Disabilities
Ordinary houses in ordinary streets: Independent social care and housing solutions for people with learning disabilities - Northern Ireland Mencap
Research
Autism advocacy and research misses the mark if autistic people are left out
Autism and the criminal justice system research to be presented at international conference - University of Cumbria
Cognitive behavioral therapy can improve emotion regulation in children with autism - York University
Here's how personal assistants can support decision making - Noraj Fry Centre
How to better safeguard people with learning disabilities from forced marriage - University of Nottingham
New research shows misperceptions of autism abound in community - Australian National University
