Learning Disability Week 2020

Posted 19th June 2020

A cancer diagnosis for anybody can be difficult, but for someone who has a learning disability or additional need it can be really overwhelming. Here at The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre we have developed a number of ways to help our patients with learning disabilities and/or autism who attend treatment and ensure they feel safe and secure when in our care. These may sometimes be small adjustments but they can make a big difference and will often be the reason many of our patients feel they are able to manage coming into hospital for treatment.

In celebration of Learning Disability Week 2020 we have launched a short film created to show what the treatment journey for a patient with a learning disability and/or autism attending one of our hospitals for radiotherapy may look like. The video aims to give patients and their family, carers or advocates an opportunity to see what may happen at different stages in the treatment plan and the provisions we have in place so they’re able to gain confidence. A BSL version of the video is also available here.

**Please note, this video was filmed before the introduction of social distancing measures**

We have also recently introduced ‘distraction boxes’ for all clinical areas within our hospitals. Kindly donated by The Clatterbridge Cancer Charity, the distraction boxes contain various items which help our patients have the best possible experience whilst with us. They include twiddle muffs, games, colouring books, fidget cube, iPads and sunflower lanyards which are used to help identify patients who have a learning disability, autism or dementia.

Learning Disability Week is an annual event held across the country every June to raise awareness of important issues, challenge stereotypes or prejudices and most importantly celebrate the people in our lives who have learning disabilities.

Every year a specific theme is chosen and due to the current Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, this year’s is the importance of friendships during lockdown. We know many people with learning disabilities experience loneliness and social isolation on a day-to-day basis and this will have only been heightened due to the current lockdown restrictions in place. This year, Learning Disability Week is being used as a way to help showcase the different ways people can maintain friendships during this unprecedented time, whether it’s through befriending services or video calls.

You can find out more about Learning Disability Week here.

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