Understanding Intellectual Disability and Health

An understanding of the nature of intellectual disability is essential for health care professionals, who are required to support equal access to their services for all disabled people. This website is an ideal learning resource for medical, nursing and other healthcare students. Everyone working in healthcare will find valuable information here, with contributions from a wide range of authors.

Financial crisis -  these resources provide useful information.    Scope: free energy and water advice to disabled people  https://www.scope.org.uk/disability-energy-support/ ......      Mencap: Easy read info, advice, and money help   https://www.mencap.org.uk/help-with-food-energy-and-money ....... Thinking Works:  Help to tackle fuel poverty https://www.thinkingworks.co.uk/

Down Syndrome legislation requires the government to publish guidance on the specific needs of people with Down syndrome and how those should be met.  This incredible achievement is due to the perseverance of Heidi Crowter, Baroness Sheila Hollins, Dr Liam Fox MP, and other campaigners:  https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-coventry-warwickshire-60955917 and https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-england-london-61277596…. More information on Down Syndrome Act 2022 and on  Mandatory Training in LD and Autism at https://www.herts.ac.uk/intellectualdisability/changing-values

Covid-19 information. This section contains links to resources on Covid-19 for people with intellectual disabilities and their families and carers, and also provides an opportunity for discussion pieces on different aspects of this topic. Please see https://www.herts.ac.uk/intellectualdisability/covid-19-information

Afghanistan crisis: Refugees with learning disabilities are at higher risk.  Beyond Words have been preparing a refugee focused story for a while but now, in response to the crisis in Afghanistan, they have published a FREE short resource, to try and help those who need urgent support: please see  https://booksbeyondwords.co.uk/afghanistan ..... And now also  When the war came – Ukraine  https://booksbeyondwords.co.uk/ukraine which is a new short resource to help those fleeing the war to begin to tell their own stories and talk about their feelings.  Please see as well    https://www.socialconnectedness.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Asylum-Seekers-and-Refugees-with-Intellectual-Disabilities-in-Europe-1-1.pdf

Activist historians with learning disabilities – claiming our own history. 29 June 2022.  An exciting evening where activist historians with learning disabilities spoke about their work.  People with learning disabilities have been excluded from their own history more than any other group.  A new generation of activist historians are working with co-researchers to lay claim to their history, and tell it their way.  A recording of this online event is available at https://www.bbk.ac.uk/events/remote_event_view?id=32230

Students’ Contributions. This section provides opportunities for contributions prepared by students and others early in their careers. We are encouraging a variety of topics and formats, including dissertations, essays, poster presentations and other material prepared for external events, as well as various kinds of “pre-articles” which could eventually lead to full articles.  Please see https://www.herts.ac.uk/intellectualdisability/students-contributions

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Changing values

Changing values

An understanding of the nature of intellectual disability is essential for health care professionals, who are required to support equal access to their services...

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Family

Family

Most people with intellectual disabilities live at home with their families. Valuing parents' views and their knowledge of their children is crucial to the effe...

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Life stages

Life stages

Life stages create changing demands and roles over time. The developmental transitions and related service responses, from infancy to childhood to adolescence, ...

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Physical health

Physical health

This section contains articles about various physical conditions and illnesses, and their implications for people with intellectual disabilities....

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Mental health

Mental health

This section contains a range of articles on different aspects of the mental health of people with intellectual disabilities....

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How to

How to

This section provides practical advice about relevant clinical skills. Most advice is written, but pictures also feature, including some from the Books Beyond W...

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General information

General information

Find out about copyright of articles, as well as biographies of authors...

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Assessment and Testing

Assessment and Testing

The aim of this section is to describe prenatal screening procedures and tests designed to assess the functioning of children and adults...

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