LEARNING DISABILITIES | empowered-lives

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About Learning Disabilities

It is estimated that there are currently about 1.5 million people with learning disabilities in the UK. There are many types of ‘learning disability’ and whilst there can be many causes, sometimes the cause is never known.

A learning disability is not like mental illness; it is an organic condition that affects a person’s ability to understand new or complex information, learn new skills and cope independently, all to varying degrees depending on the person and how their disability affects them individually.

Mencap, the learning disability charity, describes learning disabilities as a “reduced intellectual ability and difficulty with everyday activities – for example household tasks, socialising or managing money – which affects someone for their whole life.”

The UK Department of Health gives the following definition: “a significantly reduced ability to understand new or complex information, to learn new skills (impaired intelligence) along with a reduced ability to cope independently (impaired social functioning). The onset of disability is considered to have started before adulthood, with a lasting effect on development…” . We believe that, with the right kind of support, people can experience a positive and rewarding life. Whilst some people need support with most or all everyday tasks throughout their lives, many people with learning disabilities are able to live quite independently with minimal support using an enabling or coaching approach.

Empowered Lives provides support in a holistic and person-centered way to enable individuals to live their lives in the way they want.

We are focused on providing a service of such quality that our practices translate into keeping the people that we support safe, healthy and physically and mentally active, the outcome of which is to enhance their independence and wellbeing. We also aim to promote social inclusion and challenge situations that further marginalise the people we support, who in some cases are already amongst some of the most marginalised people within our communities.

Our workforce aim to provide meaningful support at all times. This includes stimulation and activities which engage and enrich the lives of people on a physical, mental, social and emotional level. This approach contributes to longer, healthier and, more purposeful lives for the people we support as many research studies demonstrate.