I’m no psychologist but why on earth do we continue to give people with learning disabilities and their families such an incredibly tough time?

Most people with learning disabilities are born with learning disabilities.  Others

DanceSyndrome participants celebrating life

acquire learning disabilities through accidents, notably brain injury.  No one chooses to have learning disabilities.  But it happens.  It can happen to anyone, or impact anyone no matter your (perceived) standing or status.  It doesn’t discriminate.  It affects people from all walks of life.

The reality which perturbs me and continues to be perpetuated is that only a tiny minority thrive and achieve in their lives.  Why?  And why do we (society and services) support children relatively well but turn our backs on adults?

Truth is that the vast majority of people with learning disabilities don’t receive appropriate support to enable and empower them.  Worse still, support is often denied altogether unless their advocates actively fight for what is rightfully theirs enshrined by law.  Some find themselves placed in totally inappropriate places to live such as residential homes for the elderly, or institutionalised, taken away from family and society to assessment and treatment units for monitoring and evaluations.  This can lead to people with learning disabilities being treated worse than animals, held in solitary confinement hundreds of miles away from those who love them with no social company other than professionals assigned to evaluate them, having food passed through a hatch because of their (understandably) poor behaviour, and all too often being restrained or medicated to control or pacify them.  In turn the inappropriate use of drugs or lack of care by institutions or the NHS has led to trauma and a hideous number of deaths.  How can this be right?  How is this tragedy allowed to perpetuate in the 21st century?

If you treat anyone as less than human it seems a given that they will rebel, be difficult, argumentative, aggressive and challenging.  I’m absolutely sure that I would be, and you too I fancy.

Conversely it would seem that by treating a person with dignity and respect, listening and responding to their needs, by valuing and nurturing their interests, attributes and talents whatever they may be, you are more likely to find yourself working alongside more fulfilled happier individuals who want to engage, learn and participate.  It puts the social back into social care and presents the way forward.

This is not rocket science.  This is social care as we, Blackwells.biz understand it.  

The charity DanceSyndrome is one such example where people are thriving when included and contributing to life – both theirs and that of others in their communities – whilst simultaneously demonstrating less dependency on the state.  With brilliant takeaways – win win win win win – for the 3rd way system, for parents/carers, for people with learning disabilities, for society, and for the exchequer where meaningful jobs are created with positivity, happiness and joy inbuilt.  Now people with learning disabilities are rocking, contributing, engaging, having fun!  

Let’s hear it for a better world with better futures where every person is included.  Equal opportunities for all.

If you’d like to continue this conversation please do get in touch sharing a comment below or contacting us directly.