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.
Down's syndrome legislation requires the government to publish guidance on the specific needs of people with Down's 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. Please see https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-coventry-warwickshire-60955917 and https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-england-london-61277596
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 . Please see also https://www.socialconnectedness.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Asylum-Seekers-and-Refugees-with-Intellectual-Disabilities-in-Europe-1-1.pdf
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
Learning Disability Week 2021. Kingston and St George’s, Faculty of Health, Social Care & Education, held a celebration event on 24 June. Recording is available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uh2ahjKLdgA&t=791s (Part 1, 70 mins) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ttIzy_QKoeQ (Part 2, 62 mins)
Browse our articles
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...
Read more about changing values
Diagnosis
The aim of this section is to describe prenatal screening procedures and tests designed to assess the functioning of children and adults. It covers not just the...
Read more about diagnosis
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...
Read more about family
Life stages
Life stages create changing demands and roles over time. The developmental transitions and related service responses, from infancy to childhood to adolescence, ...
Read more about life stages
Physical health
This section contains articles about various physical conditions and illnesses, and their implications for people with intellectual disabilities....
Read more about physical health
Mental health
This section contains a range of articles on different aspects of the mental health of people with intellectual disabilities....
Read more about mental health
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...
Read more about how to
General information
Find out about copyright of articles, as well as biographies of authors...
Read more about general information