This week we are celebrating Learning Disability Week from the 14th to the 20th of June. The charity Mencap has chosen the theme ‘Art and Creativity’ for this year’s campaign. According to Mencap ‘Creativity and self-expression can help improve mental health and lead to greater community inclusion.’
What is a Learning disability?
Mencap has a web page dedicated to information about what a learning disability is. They have their definition of a learning disability which can be seen below.
‘A learning disability is a reduced intellectual ability and difficulty with everyday activities – for example household tasks, socialising or managing money – which affects someone for their whole life.
People with a learning disability tend to take longer to learn and may need support to develop new skills, understand complicated information and interact with other people.’
Who are Mencap?
Mencap are a UK based charity that works with people with learning disabilities. They first began in 1946 when a woman called Judy Fryd wrote to ‘Nursery World’ magazine inviting other parents to contact her about the lack of services available for children with learning disabilities.
Judy had her own child with learning disabilities, so she witnessed first-hand the lack of awareness around learning disabilities and support for people with learning disabilities. Judy formed an association which later became Mencap.
How can you support Learning Disability Week?
You can get involved with Learning Disability Week by downloading Mencap’s ‘Art and Creativity’ resource pack. If you want to create some handprint splatter art, attend an art event in your local area or share your artwork on social media with your friends and family, this pack has it all.
How are we supporting the campaign?
This week, our learning disability clients are taking centre stage and sharing their very own artwork and examples of creativity with us. Throughout the week, we will be sharing their pictures of creative activities, such as baking, painting and exercising on social media.
