If you know an adult with LD, how do they spend their days?

TravellingSpoon · 2021-01-06T11:12:55+00:00

Posting in chat for traffic. Have had the double whammy of DLA renewal and annual review come at once and having a bit of a wobble, thinking about DS's future. So, if you have a family member or friend with LD, what do they do during the day?

TheLightSideOfTheMoon · 06/01/2021 11:17

I look after young adults with LD.

On a 'normal' day we all do normal stuff. Swimming, cinema, classes at college, walks, shopping - usual stuff.

During covid it has been lots of movies and arts and crafts. Tedious walks around the same square mile because we can't venture too far as one of them is sheilding and we can't risk bring covid in.

Usually they enjoy full lives. ATM, it's really dull.

GurlwiththeCurl · 06/01/2021 11:24

My DS has ASD and LD and is now in his 30s. What is amazing about him is that he has continued to learn and develop at his own pace. He went to a mainstream school but couldn’t do any exams. Since he left school at 16, he was able to do some simple courses at college and then learned a variety of skills through supported work.

He got to the point where he is able (with a lot of help and support from us) to hold down a part-time job in a supermarket and earn his own money. We continue to teach him useful skills at his own pace, such as cooking, putting the washing on, cleaning, handling money, travelling. This is to ensure that he can cope in the future when we are not here any longer. He will always need support, but he continues to surprise us!

Best wishes to you and your family.

Athinginitself · 06/01/2021 11:33

My sister is in her 30s with LD and autism. She currently still lives with parents. Pre covid she went to a theatre group 2 x a week for a couple of hours, volunteers in a charity shop 2 x afternoons a week (helping to sort stuff out) my dad has to take her and pick her up as cant travel independently and went to a ld disco in a pub once a fortnight. She has only just recently stopped going to college..went for many many years to various different ones for life skills/literacy etc. Also went to a residential college for 3 years after school.

starrynight21 · 06/01/2021 11:40

My stepson is 35 and has Autism - he lives with his mother and mostly stays in his room playing computer games. He'll go shopping with her to help because she has some disabilities , but won't go outside on his own volition. Does some basic housework .

I know it's hard to think about the future. We have great difficulty in thinking of what will happen with my DSS.

M0mmyneedswine · 06/01/2021 11:52

I work with adults with LD, usually we do arts and crafts, swimming, shopping, cooking, board games, gym etc. At the moment we are restricted to walks. None of the people I work with could live totally independently though

MangoesAreMyFavourite · 06/01/2021 12:17

Dd spends a lot of time listening to music and watching TV at the moment as entertainment (along with a daily walk).

But she's come on a lot with independent living skills She learnt how to do unload the dishwasher and put a load of laundry on independently in the last lockdown. And doing a lot more cooking.

I think the boredom is playing it's part.

IhateBoswell · 06/01/2021 12:20

Before Covid, I knew a few people with LD who worked in the town charity shops. (I obviously still know them, they’re just not working in the shops at the moment).

TheLightSideOfTheMoon · 06/01/2021 14:27

Oooooo, I forgot about the weekly disco. Been nearly a year...

Loved it. Started at 7pm, finished at 10pm. No alcohol so no pissed-up weirdos, lots of lights, loud and camp 80s and 90s tunes and you could dance like a twat and no one judges you.

I miss it!

Witchend · 06/01/2021 15:25

In "normal" times the café where I work employs young people with learning difficulties. They often talk about what they're doing and its a whole host of things from choirs, drama groups, meeting with friends, volunteering at various places. Some of them also do evening classes for skills like car maintenance and cooking and that sort of thing. They're a lovely bunch.

Original poster

TravellingSpoon · 07/01/2021 12:57

Thank you everyone. These responses made me feel better.

OP posts:

GlitterSandcastle · 07/01/2021 16:13

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the request of the OP.

DOINGOURBIT · 07/01/2021 16:16

My 32 year old daughter has LD and autism. She is travelling to work every day as an analyst, using bus and tube, and doing a 40 hour week - because she hates working form home.

jamesfailedmarshmallows · 07/01/2021 17:04

The thing is LD is quite a spectrum.. It can be quite mild (I assume this is the case with the analyst above) right through to an adult with the mental age of a baby.
To balance the very positive cases, I worked with a lady who had a son with the mental age of a 12 month old. She worked very PT as a distraction during his school hours, but unfortunately once he reached 18 there was very little provision for him and she had to give up work. This was very depressing for her, as he will never improve and as his physical health is fine she worries greatly about what will happen to him when he dies.
Along our road there is a residential house for adults with moderate to severe LDs. They seem to have a very structured, fulfilling life, lots of activities and outings. I know a lot of them now and they largely seem very happy.

something2say · 07/01/2021 17:18

I can say that we who work in supported living for adults with additional needs generally really enjoy it and develop genuinely caring long term relationships with the people we care for. I've been moving around lately and with my long history as a support worker for survivors of abuse and trauma, I swapped and did agency for a bit. So many times I witnessed a quiet simple moment between a person we care for and a colleague and I realized the home is a happy place to be. A friends brother has a little girl who may need this sort of care one day and I am heartened now to know that the carers will come to know and love her.

Embracelife · 07/01/2021 17:22

Sa asd sld needs 24 7 supervision.
Supported living
Amaxibg youbg suppoet workers pr

Embracelife · 07/01/2021 17:23

Pre covid full timetable eg bowling gym day centre music etc
now walks shopping cooking washing some zoom sessions

Embracelife · 07/01/2021 17:30

@something2say

I can say that we who work in supported living for adults with additional needs generally really enjoy it and develop genuinely caring long term relationships with the people we care for. I've been moving around lately and with my long history as a support worker for survivors of abuse and trauma, I swapped and did agency for a bit. So many times I witnessed a quiet simple moment between a person we care for and a colleague and I realized the home is a happy place to be. A friends brother has a little girl who may need this sort of care one day and I am heartened now to know that the carers will come to know and love her.

Thankyou something for everything you all do We really appreciate For ds it s like he lives with a rotating team of fab housemates

GoldenGumballs · 07/01/2021 17:32

TravellingSpoon if your DS has an EHC plan he is also entitled to continued education till he’s 25. Of course you need to push for this to be implemented as with everything. Transitions is a difficult time but with the right services in place your DS could have a fulfilled life.

jamesfailedmarshmallows · 07/01/2021 17:36

Golden does this apply to everyone with an EHCP?

GoldenGumballs · 07/01/2021 17:40

I also believe adults with the most severe LDs can continue to learn new skills & experience new experiences. We should never give up on anyone nor accept they will not ‘improve’.

MillieEpple · 07/01/2021 17:40

My uncle lives in an assisted living place. They do activities that he enjoys and he has visits from family.its a bit harder with covid.

jamesfailedmarshmallows · 07/01/2021 17:43

Sorry when I said he wouldn't improve (which was poor wording) what I meant was that he would never not require 24/7 care.

GoldenGumballs · 07/01/2021 17:45

@jamesfailedmarshmallows

Golden does this apply to everyone with an EHCP?

This should be the case but as usual depends on your local authority offer. There should definitely be a planned to adulthood.

GoldenGumballs · 07/01/2021 17:49

jamesfailedmarshmallows
It’s ok I understand it’s difficult to word sometimes.
Can your friend get direct payments to employ someone to take her son out and about? To give her a break?

Lovemusic33 · 07/01/2021 17:57

My job involves working in the community with adults with mental illness, SN’s and LD’s. I also have 2 teenagers with SN’s one who won’t live independently.

Each person is different, some don’t leave their houses and others attend clubs and activities, visit friends and family, go to the gym or walk, some enjoy going to the pub for a game of pool or darts.

We have several assisted living accommodations near by where 8 people live together with support, many of the young people who live there are active members of the community, people know them well and they join in with local activities sometimes with support and sometimes not.

I think things have change a lot in recent years to make sure there are activities open to everyone in the community. There’s also local businesses that employ people with LD’s wether that’s the local pub or local cafes and shops.