Learning Disabilities
Services available to people with learning disabilities are:
- single shared assessment
- support to individuals, carers & families
- day care
- home care services
- occupational therapy
- Independent Living Project
- respite care, home based & residential
- employment opportunities
- advocacy service
"People with learning disabilities have a significant, lifelong condition that started before adulthood, that affected their development and which means they need help to understand information; learn new skills and cope independently"
"The same as you?" A Review of Services, Scottish Executive (May 2000)
People with learning disabilities often have complex, associated health problems such as epilepsy, sensory impairment or mental ill-health, including early onset dementia. People with learning disabilities may need help from various different agencies and professionals throughout their lives as levels of need vary.
Planning services for people with learning disabilities in Shetland has meant inter-agency co-operation to develop a strategy which puts service users, their carers and families at its centre.
Good quality assessment and care management is part of that strategy.
Social Care, after the initial assessment, will provide the necessary information and advice to assist in the decision making process and offer a full range of choices regarding services available, in order to achieve the best possible quality of life.
A range of training and work-based opportunities is also available to encourage participation, integration and independence.
Alongside other agencies they are also working to promote a greater understanding of people with learning disabilities, to develop ways of supporting people and their families to achieve their rights and to promote a greater understanding in the community of the contribution they can make.
To see what is available click here.
Learning Disabilities Leaflet
Shetland's Practice In Partnership (PiP) for people with learning disabilities 2004 - 2007
This document describes current services for children and adults
with learning disabilities in Shetland and shows how partner agencies
are seeking to develop them in the near future. It has been produced
in response to the Scottish Executive's report 'The Same as
You?'
Local Voluntary Services
Advocacy Shetland - 01595 743929 or email: advocacy@shetland.org
Disability Shetland - 01595 743919
COPE - 01595 690011
Moving On - 01595 743926
Enable - 0141 226 4541 or email: enable@enable.org.uk
Useful Websites
www.capability-scotland.org.uk - advice, support and information for disabled people and their carers
www.radar.org.uk/radarwebsite - campaigning on disability issues
www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Justice/Civil/awi - scottish government site
www.leonard-cheshire.org - campaigning for jobs for disabled people
www.bcodp.org.uk - United Kingdom's Disabled People's Council (UKDPC)
www.jobability.com - leading job site for disabled people
www.employers-forum.co.uk - information for employers on employing disabled people
For further information please see our Leaflets page and the Other Organisations page.