Autism and learning disabilities are more prevalent in the UK than many people realise. Data suggests that as many as 1.5 million people in this country have a learning disability. This includes more than 900,000 adults over the age of 18. In terms of autism, it is estimated that 1% of the total population have an autism spectrum condition.
Learning disability support in your own home
At SuperCarers, we believe that people with learning disability deserve specialist care. This kind of support should promote both independence and self-direction. The main goal of a learning disability support worker is to enhance the quality of life of people living with a learning disability. They promote independence, and improve communication and life skills.
To this end, care providers can help people with autism or learning disability by:
-
Advocating independence and encouraging them to do things themselves where possible
-
Adapting to daily and long-term changes of a client’s symptoms and abilities
-
Communicating with a client’s circle of support to ensure appropriate care is provided
-
Empowering clients to reach their goals to give them a sense of achievement
-
Supporting clients to achieve good mental and physical health
-
Providing care that is tailored to the individual’s symptoms and needs. This includes making sure that any coexisting conditions, such as epilepsy, are appropriately considered.
This type of Home care should be provided by a care provider with support workers who have training and expertise in caring for autism and learning disability. It can take many forms, including:
-
Live-in autism and learning disability care
Please note some care providers will only provide home care for adults (over 16 years old) so you need to make sure the provider you are looking for covers the condition and age category required.
Resources for autism and learning disability support workers
Are you looking for resources to help you care for someone with autism or a learning disability? A good place to start is the AutismSpeaks charity. Their website is a rich resource for research materials, links to community outreach efforts, information about grants, and more.
As for support services, numerous charities are available across the UK, providing educational resources, group support, and more.
Here are a few other useful resources:
SuperCarers understands that finding quality home care is very important. We can help you find professional care providers in your area who specialise in learning disability and autism care.
