Learning Difficulties-Leaving College

[S-Maria]

Hi Everyone, I am new here and looking for some advice, information. Anything. I care for my sister who has learning difficulties and she has now turned 25, up until now she has been at a special needs school and then a special needs college too, the college she is now have said their are not able to offer her any further courses. I am at a loose end as to what she can go into and actually do now. I have been in touch with Birmingham City Council Adult Transitions Team, who made me fill in a form and said a Social Worker will be in touch. There were two social workers who contacted me last year, only to find they had moved on and i have to start the process all again. I would love for her to have something to do as i can not imagine her having no where to go for 5 days of the week, as much as i spend time with her i also work. I am happy with our living arrangements for now, however i feel I am at a loose end, does anyone know what options may be available ? What she could possible do ?

Thank you in advance

[LDAutie]

hi S-Maria ive not been on the group for a long while,so hi and welcome if youve only just joined-im 37 and have autism and learning disability,epilepsy and physical disability,i live in very unsuitable supported housing and am waiting to move but like your sister-my CLDT social worker has moved up a job and ive had no one for a long time even though theyve had a ton of safeguarding incidents thrown at them about me.

if you look at each special college near you within a doable distance,you might be able to find one-some special colleges do post 25 like the one i used to go to until i moved to faer away-the david lewis centre.i did all sorts post 25 there including animal care,animal therapy and hydroytherapy. its to far from your sister though as your both in birmingham and david lewis is in cheshire, the little village its in has got a very strange name,i remember my staff saying ir took them an hour and a half to get me from where i lived in manchester to there,but it was worth it.

if your sister is into doing things with her hands, like art or stitching,knitting, crocheting, making cards etc for example- have a look for 'supported art studio' (and include your area name),it gives the artist a chance to show their creativity without judgement from the mainstream art world and gives a real sense of worth.

i attend a supported art studio for kids and adults with learning disability called venture arts in manchester,if your ever trying to find a studio chat to VA on instagram or their comms email as theyre hooked up with supported LD art studios all over the UK you just might find one.

another one to look for,is a course called ASDAN towards independance which can be adapted for the least complex learning disability to the most profoundly affected learning disabled adults.it can be done post 25,have a email/phone around different mainstream colleges they do not advertise their specialist departments in their main sites.

ive done this in mainstream college (but i got thrown out due to challenging behaviors and my epilepsy scaring other students)-ive then gone on to do it susucesfuly part time when i lived in residential care as we had an ASDAN tutor every week.

as for things in the evening time,mencap still do gateway clubs as far as i know, i used to go to one in manchester until a couple of years back when one of my two support staff who had no understanding of learning disability had a go at my friends and i never went bakc since.

one more thing to note, theres special olympics GB,ive done this a lot but when you reach around mid/late 30s you tend to not get picked for anything national/international as your not seen as having the same physaical strength as a younger person woud.

there are so many things out there but you really need someone birminham based who can guide you.

sorry, i hope this helps.

[BenjiB]

You need to hassle Social Services. I’m sure there is somewhere you dab make a complaint. The transitions team really would be your next step.

[CoyoteU]

I know it's a bit far for you but I would recommend Bespoke Inns in Derby (Willington ) I am a Kitchen Porter there with Austism and Dyspraxia if you are interested and she has a some experience let me know the staff are very helpful!

[MadDawney]

I have a 23 year old son with profound multiple learning disabilities. He also went to a special needs school until he was 19 and then to college. He finished college last summer and now attends a community hub day centre run by Leading Lives each week day. I am in Suffolk so not sure if they have anything similar in your area. They do different activities each day and Leading Lives also have respite centres and supported living accommodation. Again, you would probably need social services input to access such a facility, so I would keep hassling them. Or you could look up any suitable places on the internet. I hope you can find something .