Supporting #LDWeek 2022 – ‘Living Life with a Learning Disability’ 

Organised by Mencap the annual Learning Disability Awareness Week is all about making sure the world hears what life is like if you have a learning disability. This year the campaign runs from 20th June – 26th June and aims to improve the quality of life for individuals with learning disabilities by raising awareness about important issues, fighting stigma and discrimination, and raising funds for outreach and support programmes.

At Consensus we support over 650 adults and young people with learning disabilities, autism and complex needs, including Prader-Willi Syndrome (PWS). They may also have other physical and cognitive needs, including dual diagnosis, sensory-perceptual issues, behaviours which others might find challenging, early on-set dementia and visual and hearing impairment. So, it is important that we listen to each and every person we support about how they want to live their life and what is important to them.

The theme for the 2022 LD Week Campaign is ‘Living Life with a Learning Disability’ showing how people with a learning disability are reconnecting with friends and their communities. It looks at talking about the issues many people still face after the end of COVID restrictions, like still having to isolate or dealing with poor mental health and anxiety. It also gives people a voice to share the things that are important to them in their life.

This year Consensus wanted to link in with this theme by asking some of the people we support what life was like during and post pandemic and what is important to them in their lives. Please see below what they have to say…

Here Kelly, an individual we support at PWS service Parvale House, shares her thoughts and feelings on how she felt during COVID and now, as well as the things that are important to her in her life including her job as a Quality Checker for Consensus.

Here John, an individual who lives at our supported living service in Northamptonshire, shares how he felt during the COVID pandemic and how he feels since the world has gone back to normal. He also shares the things that make him happy including seeing his friends and family as well as how much he enjoys taking part in his favourite hobbies…

Here Paul, an individual we support at our residential service in Southampton, shares his feelings towards COVID. He also expresses how much friendship means to him, as well as his love for cooking and Star Wars.

 Learn more about #LDWeek2022

Learn more about how we support people with learning disabilities here.