Learning Disability Awareness and Communication Taster Session

Ground Rules

Mobiles off!

Participation

Confidentiality

The main aim of this taster session:• Is to raise awareness of learning disability and

demonstrate the various aspects of communication and its importance in creating an inclusive environment.

• By the end of the session you should be able to explain what learning disability is, what it is not and the causes.

• We will spend some time thinking about communication and you will be able to demonstrate how to communicate well with people with a learning disability.

Aims for the session

Activity

In your groups can you discuss and come up

with a definition of what a learning disability

means to you.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3yvZYyeWE20

What does a learning disability mean to you

What is a learning disability?

Activity

In groups decide which of the statements are True or False?

Activity

Can you shout out what you think causes a learning disability?

What are the causes?

Here is a quote from a person with a learning disability:

Communication

“Sometimes I've got the words in my mind, and I'm trying to explain it in the best possible way, but it doesn't always come out.”

So what can we do about this?

Activity

Can write down what communication difficulties do think people with a learning disability might experience?

Communication Difficulties

1. Find a good place to communicate in.2. Check with the person that you understand each other.3. Watch the person.4. Do not rush or hurry someone’s answer.5. Learn from experience – it takes time to get it right.6. Ask open questions.7. Use drawings, photos, and objects to describe things.8. Many people will only understand key words.9. Break down complicated instructions.10.Give extra help in busy situations.

10 Top Tips for Communication

Please take the time to fill in the evaluation form.

For more information you can visit Mencap’swebsite, on www.mencap.org.uk or you can contact Mencap direct on 0808 808 888

Thank you for your time and interest.

Evaluation and Further Information