Researchers at Norah Fry have been looking at issues relating to supporting parents with learning disabilities for many years, recently producing an extremely helpful report (Finding the right support? A review of issues and positive practice in supporting parents with learning difficulties and their children ).

In this report, they focus on the role of grandparents and the extended family in the support network. The author outlines some of the key issues and develops some strategies for the involvement of the extended family, drawing on contributions from parents with learning disabilities from CHANGE (a national organisation running a network of and for parents with learning disabilities) and from a range of organisations providing support to family carers and members of the extended family, especially grandparents.

On the basis of the findings, it is suggested that grandparents and other members of the extended family can and do make a huge difference to parents with learning difficulties and their children, providing a role model, support, information, advice and childcare.

Download the full report as a pdf here Supporting parents with learning disabilities: Grandparents and the extended family