Families - St Albans Review

Lesley Campbell, of the learning disability charity Mencap, says: “If your child is diagnosed with a learning disability, you’ll want to ask the question that any parent would ask: 'What would help my child?’”

Below are some ways you can support your child’s learning: 

• Be very clear when you speak. Don’t use long or complex sentences or instructions.
• Get face-to-face with your child. Come to their level and make eye contact.
• Give one-stage rather than two-stage instructions, such as ''Put on your coat'' rather than "Put on your coat and do up the buttons so we can go".
• Reduce clutter in a child’s life. Instead of lots of toys to play with, give them two or three at a time. Encourage them to make clear choices, such as, ‘Would you like to play with the cat or the rabbit?’

Dr Martin Ward Platt, consultant paediatrician at the Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, says that loving your child and including them in stimulating family life is the best thing you can do. Make sure your child is growing up in a household where they are:   

• included in plenty of conversation,   
• encouraged to communicate and to participate in activities, and 
• read to by you and taught to value books.

Most of all, love your child and show it. 

Sources of support in the community
Your GP or health visitor will be able to let you know of support services in your area. You can also contact:

• Family Information Services (FIS). There is an FIS in every local authority area, providing details of all services for parents and carers, including services for children and young people with disabilities up to the age of 25. To find your local FIS you can call your local council, or see the FIS page on the Nafis website. 
• Parent Partnership Services (PPS) provide confidential, impartial information and support to parents of children with special educational needs (SEN). There is one in every local authority area, offering information on how assessments and reviews take place, parents’/carers’ rights and responsibilities, and what parents and carers can do if they’re not happy with a decision being made about their child’s SEN.

Mencap, the learning disabilities charity, also has information on local parents’ groups.