What is a learning disability?
A learning disability affects the way a person learns new things in any area of life.
It can be difficult for a person with a learning disability to:
- understand new things
- learn new skills
- live independently
- communicate with other people.
The level of support needed depends on the individual. For example, someone with a mild learning disability may only need support with things like getting a job. However, someone with a severe learning disability may need full-time care and support with every aspect of their life. They may also have physical disabilities.
A person with learning disabilities may experience prejudice from other people who don't understand their disabilities, or feel lonely because they don't have anyone to talk to about how they are feeling.
Get help from us
Contact us to find out how we can help you.
- Phone: 020 7926 5555
- Address: Integrated Disabilities Service, London Borough of Lambeth, PO Box 80771, London, SW2 9QQ
What happens next
A social worker will normally meet with the person with a learning disability to find out what their needs are.
Usually, the social worker will talk to the person’s carer too and then will assess the person’s needs and decide if they can get help.
They'll also find out what the person with learning disabilities wants, and what help will work best for them. The social worker will write a plan to meet the person's care and support needs.
Other help
Travel and transport
If you find it difficult to get around, have a look at our Travel and transport section. This has information to make travelling easier for you.
Equipment and adapting your home
To help people with learning disabilities live independently within their home, occupational therapists carry out assessments to see what special equipment and adaptations are needed.
Money
For information about claiming disability benefits and about direct payments, go to the Paying for care section.
Lambeth Learning Disability Assembly (LLDA)
LLDA is run by family carers and people with learning disabilities.
The Lambeth Learning Disability Assembly is a place for people with a learning disability and their carers to come together to talk about things that are affecting them, and what they want to see happen.
The job of the assembly is to make sure that the voice of the person with the disability is heard by everyone that makes the decisions that affect them, such as:
- the council
- the Clinical Commissioning Group
- hospital trusts
- the health and wellbeing board
- the police
- social care commissioners, and others.
Have a look at the LLDA website and find out when their next meeting is.
Carers' Hub Lambeth
Carers' Hub Lambeth is a charity offering services and support to unpaid carers.