News
We last put news on this page on July 11, 2010
New resources
- Inequalities Sensitive Practice Initiative Maternity Pathways: Women with Learning Disabilities: Equalities in Health (pdf, 151kb)
- Protocol on Advice and Advocacy for Parents by the Centre for Family Research, University of Cambridge (pdf, 358kb)
Announcing much needed seminars
- Ann Craft Trust Open Seminar Series 2010 - Supporting Parents with Learning Disabilities (pdf, 52kb)
- Supporting families where parents have learning disabilities and difficulties (pdf, 487kb)
"Can We Get Married?" - BBC2 Programme
"Like many couples who have been together for six years and are in their late twenties, Emma Bishop and Ben Marshall are thinking of getting married. But for them, it is not entirely straightforward.
Emma and Ben both have Down's syndrome and are residents of a supported-living community in Devon, where they have an active social life and part-time jobs. They live in a small house with their friend Cy Clench, who also has Down's syndrome. If Emma and Ben were to get married, it could mean a completely different way of living.
Through the high spirits of their dance nights to the tired conversations at the end of their working days, this film follows Emma and Ben as they decide whether married life would be an enormous stress they could do without, or the romantic dream they always imagined."
Text from BBC Web site.
- Find out more at: www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00ny3lf
Parents losing children in 'loaded system'
"Against a background of prejudice and out-of-date assessments, six out of 10 parents with learning disabilities are having their children removed for adoption, research by Bristol University suggests."
- Find out more at: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/west_midlands/8344410.stm
Pregnant woman flees social workers
"A seven-months pregnant woman with a learning disability is reported to have fled Scotland because she fears her baby will be taken away from her when it is born."
- Find out more at: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/scotland/article6910055.ece
Woman with learning difficulties not allowed to keep her baby
"A mother-to-be whose wedding was halted by social workers who said she was not intelligent enough to marry, has now been told her baby will be taken away."
Kerry Robertson, 17 has been told that she will not be allowed to bring up the baby due in January.
Stephen Moore, Executive Director, Social Work Service said:
"Much of the work we do is governed by legislation. Complex decisions are made that balance risk and welfare while supporting people at times of personal or family need.
"We cannot discuss details of individual cases for reasons of confidentiality but give assurance that we will always work with people for the best outcome for all involved."
Mark Goldring, Mencap's chief executive said:
"There are around a quarter of a million parents with a learning disability in the UK, all of whom should have the same opportunities as anyone else to be a parent and look after their own children. Yet up to 60 per cent of parents who have a learning disability will at some stage have their children taken away, often because of preconceived ideas that parents with a learning disability are unable to cope.
"With the right support people with a learning disability can be and are excellent parents, yet many fear that asking for help may be seen as an admission of failure which would result in their children being taken away.
"Mencap wants support for parents with a learning disability to be more readily available, as well as learning disability training for local authorities so that decisions about parenting capacity are made on the individual case rather than prejudice."
