Medical perspectives of Learning Disabilities

This one day course for support workers explores the historical and contemporary concepts of Learning Disabilities from a medical perspective.

Whilst considering the background factors to some disabilities and associated physical conditions the course will examine how the role of the medical professions has influenced and contributed to the development of services for people with learning disabilities as well as highlighting medical support available.

The learning objectives:

By the end of the course learners should understand:

• What ´causes’ Learning Disabilities. To include a range of background factors e.g. gender, heredity etc.
• A classification of a range of Learning Disability syndromes
• The signs and symptoms of a range of defined Learning Disabilities e.g. Autism, etc
• The difference between a Learning Disability and a Mental Illness
• The medical/physical difficulties and challenges that may exist within each syndrome
• How people with Learning Disabilities were regarded in the past
• Institutional care-what it was like for people with Learning Disabilities living in institutions
• The different roles; Doctors, Nurses, OT’s, Physiotherapists etc
• What was positive about institutional living e.g. a community
• The negative aspects of institutional living e.g. ‘batch’ care and the widespread occurrence of abuse
• What is meant by the ‘Medical’ model
• What is meant by the ‘Social’ model
• The move away from the Medical model to the Social model:
        -Nirje
        -Wolfensberger
        -O Brien
• Some terminology used in a medical context
• Why we no linger use the term ‘Mental Handicap’ but rather use ‘Learning Disability’. Who decided this?
• The range of medical interventions that might support people with Learning Difficulties
• The range of other support required by people with Learning Difficulties
• How can we develop an integrated model based on the respect for the different roles and responsibilities in supporting people
• The potential consequences should we take a dogmatic view in our approach
• Additional information and resources

Training methods:

• Tutor presentations
• Chalk & Talk
• Group work
• OHP/PowerPoint
• Feedback
• Handouts

CP251/7.9