Mental Health of Learning Disabilities Newsletters - Let me tell you about my ability...

June 2024

Hello,

This community psychology project was created by the Mental Health of Learning Disability team (MHLD) as a way to celebrate people with a learning disability. Our hope was to offer a platform for individuals who have a learning disability to share their wisdom and achievements as well as the challenges and barriers that society can place on their path.

In our last edition (March 2024), we shared The Tree of LD, shining a light on the individuals behind the scenes, as well as on the frontline.

In this edition, we wanted to showcase the richness of experiences from those working with people with learning disabilities. Hearing from psychologists, doctors and nurses, occupational therapists, speech and language therapists, care home workers and allied health professionals, we explore how working with people with a learning disability inspires and motivates them in their work and personal lives.

Building on the previous edition of the Tree of LD, we have created a Forest of Professionals and Supporters that someone with a learning disability may meet along their journey. Each person provides a lens through which we can appreciate the value of working in learning disabilities services. The quotes illustrate the meaningful impact that working with people with learning disabilities has continued to have on their lives.

To read all of the responses click here

We hope you enjoy reading our latest editon.

If you would like to read previous editions of Let me tell you about my ability, please visit the Kent and Medway NHS and Social Care Partnership Trust's website and scroll to the bottom of the page.

Or, recommend to others to sign up to receieve this newsletter or other publications from KMPT by visiting the website too. Sign up today

Acknowledgements

Thank you to everyone who contributed to this edition: Taylor Haines-Green, Trainee Clinical Psychologist, MHLD, Jerri Callis, Trainee Clinical Psychologist, MHLD,
Kim Berisha, Trainee Clinical Psychologist, MHLD, Yasmin Mackay-Wade, Clinical Psychologist, MHLD and Iiris Kleinberg, Clinical Psychologist, MHLD.

If you have lived experience of a learning disability and would like to submit a poem or piece of artwork for a future publication, please contact us at kmpt.mhld.communitypsychologyproject@nhs.net

March 2024

Hello,

This community psychology project was created by the Mental Health of Learning Disability team (MHLD) as a way to celebrate people with a learning disability. Our hope was to offer a platform for individuals who have a learning disability to share their wisdom and achievements as well as the challenges and barriers that society can place on their path.

In our last edition (June 2023), we shared the stories of two individuals with Learning Disability (LD), told through the eyes of their loved ones, which was inspirational and deeply moving. In this issue, we’re shining a light on the individuals behind the scenes, as well as on the frontline. Today, we are proudly celebrating paid workers who work tirelessly to support and advocate for their clients with LD.

Passionate and dedicated workers are holding a beacon of hope for a world where difference is perceived as a valuable part of human diversity and is not considered to be less than. Access to health and social care should not be based on privilege, power, IQ or risk. It should be needs led. We want to offer opportunities for real growth and development in whatever way is meaningful to the person.

All the testimonials you read in this edition are verbatim accounts based on a recent survey sent to community LD teams, MHLD colleagues, local charity workers and day services staff working with adults with LD in Kent. 30 responses were received and each relay a message filled with feelings of gratitude for the privilege of bearing witness to their clients’ skills and resilience, contagious joy and appreciation for the little wins in life. Many respondents also highlighted that an important part of their role is advocating for equality and social justice and celebrating the richness of our differences, whatever these are.

So, let’s celebrate the LD workers behind the name badge: the LD community and hospital liaison nurses, occupational therapists, speech and language therapists, physiotherapists, dieticians, social workers, psychologists, counsellors, positive behaviour therapy practitioners, mental health LD nurses, LD psychiatrists and the incredible LD admin team. All of the dedicated support workers at day services and supported living, personal assistants, advocates, befrienders and volunteers. The LD university tutors and researchers and anyone else that goes the extra mile to make a difference in the lives of people who have a learning disability.

A heartfelt thank you

Aggie Moreno-Lopez

We asked, you answered

We asked people who work with clients with a learning disability two questions. We did not know how many people would respond, but we were so pleased to have many responses from nurses, occupational therapists, social workers, doctors, psychologists, support workers, charity workers, team leaders, care managers, academic tutors, trainees and more. Thank you to everyone who took the time to reply – your responses were excellent.

The tree of LD

We asked people who work with clients with LD to complete these sentence : “I support people with a learning disability to live a better quality of life by….”
And these were their answers:

Another key part of the tree of life is the fruit that grows upon the tree. The fruits on our tree represent the gifts that others have given us. We asked staff members: what people with a learning disability have given to them in their lives. Inside the fruit below, are their responses.

It’s important to highlight that whilst we work with and for people with learning disabilities, our clients also work with and for us. As you can see from our fruit, clients bring so many gifts to our work and our lives. These fruits come from the excellent work that staff do, and we wanted to make sure we celebrate all of the wonderful people in our community.

Acknowledgements

Thank you to everyone who contributed to this edition: Aggie, Danielle, Ella, Jessa, Iiris, Emily. With Special thanks to Charlotte, Jordan, Caitlin Davies and Georgie Grassom.

If you have lived experience of a learning disability and would like to submit a poem or piece of artwork for a future publication, please contact us at kmpt.mhld.communitypsychologyproject@nhs.net

March 2022

We are thrilled to be able to share with you a very special second issue of Let me tell you about my Ability. This issue has been written, edited, photographed, and coordinated in its entirety by women as a heartfelt tribute to women with learning disability (LD) on International Women’s Day.

Even to this day many women with LD continue to experience direct and indirect victimisation, disadvantage, abuse and discrimination. Tragically, history tells a dark and profoundly shameful story at the hand of the infamous Eugenics movement. Over two decades (1920s –1940s) hundreds of thousands of women with LD were robbed of their right to motherhood through forced sterilisation. Even today women with LD continue to fight hard for their rightful roles as gendered women and mothers.

In my nearly two decades of clinical practice I have had the great privilege of meeting many inspiring women who happen to have LD. Listening to their harrowing stories I am repeatedly left with an all-consuming oppressive feeling of sadness and indignation at the sheer injustice and disregard that these courageous women have been subjected for such a long time. Society (which we all make up together) has got it wrong so many times, often failing to recognise and treasure the unique gifts and wisdom women with LD give back and contribute to society.

Over the years I have been struck by the infinite resilience of women with LD and even in times of adversity they often find a way to offer boundless compassion towards others. I have witnessed these incredible women fighting with all their might in pursuit of the right to live their lives according to their values. All of these with an admirable gift for sincerity and the spontaneity to laugh with open abandon, to be truly present and to soak in, and generously share every last drop of joyfulness that comes their way. I feel so fortunate and deeply grateful to do the job I do.

This second edition of Let me tell you about my Ability is a celebration of the attributes that women with LD possess in abundance: bravery, tenacity, generosity, and resilience amongst many others. A chance to highlight and reflect on the rights of women with LD and the gifts of wisdom they offer to those who are lucky enough to have them in their lives.

We are immensely grateful and honoured to have collaborated with two separate projects to produce this issue. A beautiful project by East Kent Mencap - Lucy Edematie (writer), Sarah Wyld (photographer), and Rachel Connelly from POW! Thanet, who coordinated the project to celebrate women with LD on Women’s Day 2021, which unfortunately could not take place due to the pandemic. We are humbled to offer East Kent Mencap and the inspirational women in their project a deserving platform to celebrate women with LD all over the world.

We are also hugely appreciative to Iiris Kleinberg and Kate Theodore, and the inspirational mothers with LD who co-produced The true story of mothers with LD: We CAN do it! for letting us include one of the many moving testimonials and poems from their publication.

Happy International Women’s Day, and thank you for reading,

Aggie Moreno-Lopez

Judgement Day

Past
Growing up was hard,
Especially living with my disability,
People judging me, calling me names,
I wanted to fight back and protest and say ‘Hey I am
here, I am human, just like you, you think I’m scared
but I’m not, I’m probably stronger than you’,
p.s. I wasn’t born like this, my life changed when I
was 2.

Now
Don’t judge, just ask,
I’m not a monster, I don’t bite,
I’m funny, I’m beautiful,
I have responsibilities,
I am a mum! And I just love to have fun.
Look in the mirror, everyone is different,
The world would be boring if we were all the same,
I can write, I can cook, I can sing, I can make things,
I can give birth,
My children all have their own minds and just like
their mum they love to have fun!

Future
I will love myself more,
I will talk to people about how I feel,
I will write more poems and songs,
I will continue to find happiness and peace,
I will help my children through their ups and downs,
They will follow my example.

Written by L

Acknowledgements

This project is coordinated by Aggie Moreno-Lopez, Alexis Ng, and Georgia Roach.

If you have lived experience of a learning disability and would like to submit a poem or piece of artwork for a future publication, please contact us at kmpt.mhld.communitypsychologyproject@nhs.net

June 2021

Approximately 1.5 million people in the UK have a learning disability and this figure is increasing.

However, many people without learning disabilities (LD) do not know what a LD is, or how it impacts the lives of people who are considered to have one. The aim of this project is to amplify the voices of adults with LD offering a platform to share their valuable insights and experiences and raise awareness and tackle misconceptions.

A learning disability affects the way that people learn new things, understand information and communicate but there is no “singular” profile of learning disability – each person has their own strengths and challenges.

For many people there is no known cause for their learning disability but there are some better-known conditions that may feature learning disability e.g. Down’s syndrome and Turner’s syndrome.

Some people with LD may also have an Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC) or epilepsy, but not all.

We are using creative writing and artwork by those with lived experience of LD as a vehicle to fight stigma and offer their valuable insights. We will be sharing with you the benefits that creative writing can have and most importantly inspiring pieces created by adults with lived experience of LD.

The benefits of creative writing

Poetry and literature has been demonstrated to have many therapeutic benefits and can help in the treatment and management of many psychological conditions, such as anxiety, depression, Post- Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), bipolar disorder and eating disorders. It can even help to combat day-to-day stress.

Writing poetry allows us to:

Express our thoughts and feelings
Gain insight into our emotions
Deal with stress
Consider other perspectives
Problem solve

Writing also has a number of personal benefits, including:

Increased self-esteem and confidence
Improved self-awareness
Emotional regulation
Empowerment

In addition to the impact on individuals, poetry and creative writing can provide a vehicle to challenge stigma and misconceptions.

To find out more about the project, please email: kmpt.mhld.communitypsychologyproject@nhs.net

Did you know?

I’ve got Down’s syndrome but did you know…

I go ski race training boot camp once a month, I have two ski coaches and train for the special Olympics.

I have Down’s Syndrome but did you know…

That while some children watched cartoons, I would watch countdown on TV and learn how to write numbers and letters.

I’ve got Down’s syndrome but did you know…

I learnt a Shakespeare monologue from Romeo and Juliet in roughly one week. I’m still waiting for my Romeo…

Yes, I’ve got Down’s Syndrome but did you know…

I make a bloomin’ good Chilli Con Carne; it’s the cleaning up afterwards… I’ll do it but I don’t love it.

I’ve got Down’s Syndrome but did you know...

I started to walk at 18 months and learnt to read at the age of 4.

And yes I’ve got Down’s Syndrome but did you know…

I’ll often get up early on a Sunday and go for a 15 mile bike ride with my Mum and Dad.

Yes I have Down’s Syndrome but did you know…

That I like a challenge.

Written by Alison

This is me

Stood silent at the door clutching a hand,

This wasn’t the shopping experience I had planned.

I can feel people staring at me all the time,

It’s not very nice, it’s out of line

Little children looking up at me

Unable to understand my disability.

Just give me a smile or a wave

This can help me feel so brave.

All it can take is a smiley face

To change the world to a happier place.

Written by Victoria

The animal does not judge

Animals don’t judge my Autism, they don’t judge my epilepsy. You can feel safe and secure around an animal.

The dolphin swimming in the sea, makes me smile

The way a butterfly lands on your head, makes me feel relaxed.

The sound of a woodpecker in the park, it goes tap tap tap.

Animals make you feel like you can achieve anything. You can be yourself around an animal.

I like animals, they’re good. I’m happy with animals.

As long as it’s not a snake.

Written by NIkki

I may not have words

I may not have words, but I feel

I may not have words but I know when you are hurting

When you need a hug, a smile or a hand slipped into yours

I may not have words, but I feel the cold stare that lingers too long

That probes and questions my differentness

I may not have words but I feel the intensity of separateness- of sadness

I may not have words but I have love

And can teach you to radiate that warmth unconditionally and without limit

I may not have words

Written by Greer

If I had that magic wand, if I had that genie and three wishes, a chance to change perceptions...my magic wand moment would be…

For people to stop and think, for people to be shown the way and to be educated.

To look past what things look like on the outside and see the beautiful and good things on the inside.

Where all abilities unite as one.

For people to not be scared to help someone with a disability.

To help young people to understand and to learn so they can educate their parents.

For people to be patient.

For kindness to people with disabilities to be a habit they just can’t shake.

One magic wand moment… I’d wish for a car

Written by Ian, Nikki, Victoria, Steven and Becky

Paintings

All images by Ann

Information sheets

Take a look at our project information sheet

Take a look at our participant information sheet

Take a look ar our easy read participant information sheet

Acknowledgements

Our thanks to all of the authors and artists who contributed to this publication and to Scotts Project for their support in facilitating creative writing workshops with some of the contributors.

If you have lived experience of a learning disability and would like to submit a poem or piece of artwork for a future publication, please contact us at kmpt.mhld.communitypsychologyproject@nhs.net

Further information

Students and professionals

Medical Education

Our Postgraduate Medical Education Department has a strong reputation for delivering high quality education in psychiatry

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Carers, families and friends

Families and carers play a vital role in supporting people with mental health problems and those with addictions to drugs or alcohol, as well as those who have physical disabilities.