IT’S LEARNING Disability Week (19 to 23 June) – an annual campaign which aims to raise awareness of what life is like if you have a learning disability.
This year the national focus is on showcasing the incredible things that people with a learning disability can achieve, smashing misconceptions and shining a light on the stigma many still face every day.
At Newcastle Hospitals, we’ve taken this opportunity to focus on our legal requirement to provide reasonable adjustments to enable all patients to access our services.
Throughout the week, the learning disability liaison team is holding information stalls across both the Freeman Hospital and RVI to share information and raise awareness of initiatives in place across the Trust to support patients with a learning disability.
A fun day will also be held outside Peacock Hall at the RVI for staff, patients and families this Friday (23 June) and includes a sensory room and chill out area.
Visitors are welcome to drop by and meet with the Newcastle Hospitals team who developed the Sensational Thinking Project as well as ambassadors from Skills for People, Newcastle United Foundation, the Newcastle Falcons and Newcastle Thunder learning and disability rugby league team.
The trust’s learning disability play specialist, Samantha Cairns, has organised the activities across the week and explains why raising awareness is so important:
“People with a learning disability can – and do – die younger than the general population. It is approximately 22 years earlier for men and 26 years earlier for women,” she said.
“It’s really important that we continue to advocate and raise awareness of the importance of reasonable adjustments and initiatives such as the hospital passport to make sure we provide high levels of individualised care to all of our patients.”
The event takes place from 10am to 2pm and coffee and cake will be available between 11am to 1pm.
