This Learning Disability Week we are shining a light on the role of the specialist learning disability physiotherapist and the support they can provide.
Adults who have a learning disability may need physiotherapy support for a range of reasons, such as physical disabilities caused by conditions such as cerebral palsy, early aging, an increased risk of injuries and falls and the impact of sedentary and potentially unhealthy lifestyle choices.
Most people with a learning disability can access mainstream physiotherapy services with reasonable adjustments. But some may need support that goes beyond what is possible and reasonable. This is where a specialist learning disability physiotherapist can help.
Specialist learning disability physiotherapists have experience of working with people that have specific communication needs and behavioural challenges. We’re therefore able to adapt therapies to make them more engaging, incorporate specialist equipment and bring a personalised approach. By doing so we can improve the outcomes for people with learning disabilities. We can also work in collaboration with someone’s care network and wider services to make sure they get the right support and are able to incorporate their physiotherapy into their daily lives.
Jestine Craigs, a specialist physiotherapist at TEWV
Animation
To raise awareness of the support that specialist learning disability physiotherapists offer, the Association of Chartered Physiotherapists for People with Learning Disabilities (ACPPLD) has launched a new animation. The animation explores the specialist adjustments that physiotherapists working with people who have a learning disability can make. It also highlights the many ways in which they can support people and wider services.
To find out how a specialist learning disability physiotherapist from our Trust can help you, speak to your local community learning disability team. Details can be found on the services section of the TEWV website – www.tewv.nhs.uk.
