1. Equality and Diversity: Disability Awareness
Learning Difficulties

2. Aims of Session What are learning difficulties?
How do people with learning difficulties live their lives?
What responsibilities do BCH and NHS Bristol have to meet their needs.?

3. Learning Difficulties? Learning Disabilities?
What is the difference in terminology?
Why do we use different words to describe the same population?
What population are we talking about?

4. Learning Difficulties Why must we consider their needs
They represent about 2% of the population.
They are 58 times more likely to die before the age of 50.
High levels of unrecognised illness.
Reduced access to cancer screening and health promotion.

5. Why must we consider their needs?
Experience multiple health inequalities and social exclusion.
Evidence of discrimination abuse and neglect across health & social care
Negative attitudes and lack of staff training.

6. Why must we consider their needs?
Legal Duty to do so.
Human Rights Act
2005 Disability Discrimination Act
Single Equality Scheme; Action Plan
Reasonable Adjustments
Equal treatment =Different treatment

7. Practical examples of reasonable adjustments
Promoting services using accessible posters/letters
Giving accessible information about health conditions.
Offering first, last or double appointments.
Offering regular health checks

8. Practical examples of reasonable adjustments
Using a different employment process to recruit staff.
Outcomes of health appt recorded in a personal health plan.
Computer systems that are flagged to highlight special needs.

9. Final Slide
If you get it right for people with learning difficulties, you will get it right for everyone.
For information on the MISFITS contact