Learning Disability Week celebrations for Coventry and Warwickshire
A virtual art exhibition, video tutorials and singing are amongst the creative ways that Learning Disability Week (15 June to 21 June) will be marked in Coventry and Warwickshire this year.
The aim of the annual event is to celebrate and raise public awareness of the contribution that people with learning disabilities make within society and to showcase some of the services provided by local NHS teams. The themes for the week this year are kindness and friendship, and ordinarily, there would be a packed schedule of coffee mornings, activities and training sessions planned. But this year, staff Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership Trust have had to find new and more inventive ways to connect with people with learning disabilities, their families, carers and healthcare professionals.
Colourful paintings and drawings created during art therapy will be unveiled in a virtual art exhibition, video tutorials to help people communicate using signs, symbols and speech will be broadcast on the Trust’s social media channels and teams who often work behind the scenes will also be showcased.
The dedicated week is also an opportunity while the spotlight is on the learning disabilities to remind people that services are still open during COVID-19.
Dr Su Thrift, Lead Psychologist said: “We are really looking forward to celebrating Learning Disability Week, to build connections to new people and celebrating with those we have known a long time: people with learning disabilities, their families and those that support them and work with them. We are expecting to be inspired by stories about relationships between these people and how these connections enrich the lives of all involved. We are particularly pleased to be part of this week thinking about kindness, friendships and connections given how difficult the last few months have been during COVID 19. We are proud to be part of the multi-professional group of staff who work within health services with people with LD, and in partnerships with others, and looking forward to being part of LD week 15th – 21st June 2020”
During Learning Disability Week, Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership Trust will also be sharing information on their website and via their social media channels about the support available to families, you can meet some of the team and find out more about what they do and why they love their jobs. There will also be videos posted throughout the week sharing common Makaton signs and symbols to help people with learning disabilities communicate. Learn a new Makaton sign every day to help improve your communication skills with people with learning disabilities.
To follow Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership NHS Trust search Coventry and Warwickshire PT on Facebook and @CWPT_NHS on Twitter.