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Why choose this course?

• people with learning difficulties are misunderstood and marginalized by mainstream society
• the myths that are told about them impact the way that they are treated
• as practitioners we need to be aware of how we have unconsciously adopted some of the stereotyping behaviour and attitudes so that we can challenge it
• as people with learning difficulties are supported to live in the wider community they are going to need skills to adequately protect themselves from deliberate and unconscious abuse
• as practitioners we can support self advocacy for the users of our services
• terminology is constantly changing within learning difficulty services, what are the underlying service models which give rise to these changes and how can we find common ground with colleagues with a different perspective to our own
• this course is designed to be attended by staff and users of the service
• positive results ~ an increased understanding of the impact of our own practices enabling a more Person Centred approach

Length of course: 2 days 9.30 – 4.30

Expected outcomes: by the end of the course participants will be able to

• identify the differing models of disability and how they affect practice
• evaluate past influences on their own concepts of learning difficulties
• make choices as to appropriate and useful practice which has the user of the service centrally placed
• understand current terminology and its underlying meanings and be able to express themselves meaningfully when speaking to, or about, people with learning difficulties
• relate their practice to non-oppression and anti-discriminatory principles
• gain an appreciation of what is needed and valued by different people with learning difficulties by listening to them
• communicate more fully with other professionals in order to maintain an integrated service delivery
• learn exercises than can be taken back into the workplace for the users of their service
• differentiate between cognitive and emotional intelligence
• see our commonality together, whatever our intellectual abilities, as well as our unique differences

Nature of training: maximum of 16 participants if for a staff group. If including users of the service then the numbers and level of support required will be discussed. Art work, collage, mime and storytelling will be part of the training. This will be in small groups. No one will need to do anything ‘embarrassing’ on their own ~ apart from Zoë Grace perhaps! People with learning difficulties will co present parts of this course.

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