In 1998 a very small study was published, involving just 3 children with autism, who were treated with a hormone called secretin that controls digestion. Here’s the abstract of the study by Horvath et al: We report three children with autistic spectrum disorders who underwent upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and intravenous administration of secretin to stimulate [read the full story…]
Positive behavioural support (PBS) is based upon the notion that the key to responding to an individual’s challenging behaviours must lie in an understanding why that individual is exhibiting the behaviour and responding to issues to prevent further episodes. Functional assessment is the key technique used in understanding the behaviour and what it means to [read the full story…]
We have posted a number of times recently about the Mental Capacity Act (2005) and issues relating to the knowledge of professionals about its operation. We would like to draw your attention to a new resource which is designed to help families involved in best interest decisions, to ensure they are involved. The resource has [read the full story…]
The Home Farm Trust have recently updated their guide to reaching and supporting diverse communities. This is a resource aimed at professionals working for people with learning disabilities, family carers and also for those who work in mainstream diversity and equality fields and is designed to help with meeting the needs of people with learning [read the full story…]
Here at WELD, we see our job as bringing you the most up to date evidence relating to supporting people with learning disabilities and that usually means evidence published in journals or reports from researchers or development organisations. Today’s post is slightly different in that we want to draw attention to the launch of a [read the full story…]
The use of case studies to illustrate learning and to improve clinical practice is an established method. This case study of a woman with learning disabilities presenting with polycystic ovary syndrome is presented by the authors to explore mental health symptoms associated with the condition. Polycystic ovary syndrome is a condition that affects the ovaries [read the full story…]
Next month (June 18th) sees this year’s annual Learning Disability Week which this year will focus on the continuation of the work launched last year as the ‘Stand by me’ campaign on hate crime. This report, published by Lemos & Crane and supported by the foundation for people with learning disabilities and the Esmée Fairbairn [read the full story…]
Improving Health and Lives, the learning disabilities public health observatory was set up in April 2010 following the publication of the Michael report. It exists to help understand the experience of people with learning disabilities and to produce evidence aimed at bringing about improvements. The annual report looks at information collected by government departments. IHAL [read the full story…]
In 2010, the Scottish Government’s National Telecare Development Programme published a report on telecare and people with learning disabilities. The authors defined telecare as “the use of equipment within and outwith the home to monitor changing needs and risks, and to provide alerts and information that enable improved and informed responses to those needs and [read the full story…]
The Mental Capacity Act (2005) was amended in 2007 with the addition of the deprivation of liberty safeguards (DoLS). They exist n the code of practice and came into force in April 2009. The safeguards are there to make sure that if anyone is unable to consent to care or treatment, there are systems in [read the full story…]
