Learning disabilities
A learning disability is a life-long condition. It affects a person's ability to communicate or to do everyday things. People with a learning disability find it harder than others to learn, understand and communicate, but it does not prevent someone from learning and achieving a lot in life, if he or she is given the right support.
Newcastle City Council’s Learning Disabilities Team can help people with learning disabilities and their carers by giving advice on social and health care services, putting people in touch with organisations who may be able to help them, arranging community care assessments (where a social worker from the Learning Disabilities Team talks to someone about help and support they might need), arranging a carer's assessment, and buying and arranging services that provide help and support.
You can get the service through a referral by talking to a duty social worker who is available from 9.30am to 12 noon and 2pm to 5pm, Monday to Friday. Phone 0191 278 8100 or textphone 0191 278 8266.
The Community Link Team is also part of Newcastle Adult and Culture Services’ provision for people with learning disabilities. They work with people with learning disabilities and their families and carers to find ways of being included in their communities. This can include help with devising a Person Centred Plan, finding out what is happening locally or in your areas of interest, working out how to get to places safely, and helping to get a good start in an activity and making sure things keep going well. The team also holds an information surgery when you can drop in to talk to a member of staff. To find out more, call telephone number 0191 284 9113, or email community.link@newcastle.gov.uk .
There are also a variety of other organisations who may be able to help:
Skills for People supports adults and young people with learning and/or physical disabilities to speak up for themselves, gain in confidence and have more control over their lives through participation in planning and presenting training courses. They provide support for self-advocacy groups and service user committees, arrange short courses, and provide men’s and women’s groups.
Mencap is a national charity working with people with a learning disability to change laws and services, challenge prejudice, and directly support thousands of people to live their lives as they choose.
The British Institute of Learning Disabilities is another national charity working to improve the lives of people with a learning disability.
Netbuddy is a website giving tips, ideas and practical solutions to everyday issues from people with first-hand experience of learning disability.
DotComUnity is a national disability directory of activities, events and services. The directory covers Newcastle and the surrounding area, although the information is currently more limited than for some other areas of the country.
On this page we have included a selection of organisations that can provide support, advice and services, sometimes free of charge, to all people with a learning disability. However, if you are interested in seeing a full list of organisations that provide services locally and are approved by Newcastle City Council, please click here.