by Carol Boys, Chief Executive, Down’s Syndrome Association Since Tuesday, when we shared the Government’s decision to add adults who have Down’s syndrome to the list of people who are clinically extremely vulnerable, we have been inundated with calls, questions and stories that clearly illustrate the huge impact this decision is having on our community. […]
People on the clinically extremely vulnerable list in England have today received further guidance from the Department of Health and Social Care on keeping safe as the country introduces new national restrictions from Thursday. Yesterday (3 November), it was announced that adults (18+) who have Down’s syndrome have been added to the list of people […]
From this week, adults (18 and over) who have Down’s syndrome are to be added to the group of people who are classed as clinically extremely vulnerable. This means that they have been classed as at higher risk from coronavirus. The decision has been agreed across all four nations of the UK by their Chief […]
Now that I am swimming I have to get used to a new system. I have to have my trunks on before I got to the swimming pool under my clothes. Then I take my clothes off and get straight into the pool. After I finish swimming I can use the changing room. I want […]
The DSA will be closely following how the Department of Health and Social Care responds to the recommendations made in the 4th annual report of The Learning Disabilities Mortality Review Programme, published yesterday (16 July 2020). The LeDeR programme, established in 2015, aims to reduce early deaths and health inequalities for people with a learning […]
The Down’s Syndrome Association is involved in an international study looking at the effects of COVID-19 in people who have Down’s syndrome. This is an extremely important study, since COVID-19 is a ‘novel’ virus, unknown to the medical community until the beginning of this year. As yet, we knew very little about how severely affected […]
By Sarah, Lauren’s Mum In addition to having Down’s syndrome, in her teens Lauren was diagnosed with severe verbal dyspraxia and ASD with significant oppositional behaviour and demand avoidance. These diagnoses removed the stigma from us of “failing parents” and opened doors to get the right level of support. In August 2018 Lauren moved into […]
Vinay, our colleague at the DSA, is very keen on exercise and health. He’s shared some top tips with us on how to keep fit and healthy at home. He first wrote this list for winter exercise, but it is just as important to stay active while we are being asked to stay at home. […]
The government has announced it will pilot and roll out mandatory learning disability training for all relevant NHS healthcare professionals. It comes in response to campaigning from ourselves and thousands of others following grave concerns about the widely recognised health inequalities experienced by individuals with a learning disability. Read the ‘Right to be heard’ report […]
Earlier this year, the DSA was pleased to be involved in shaping new guidance around growing older with a learning disability. We responded to a National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) consultation on developing new standards for services to adopt. These have now been published. It covers all settings where care and support is provided, […]
