Introduction to Learning Disabilities in the Community course for GPs

This session provides a general introduction to the health and care needs of people with learning disabilities.

This session was reviewed by Dirk Palet and last updated in July 2018.

Learning objectives

By the end of this session you will be able to:

• define the term ‘learning disabilities’ and explain the terminology used by service users, organisations and institutions
• explain the roles of the key organisations and institutions involved with the care of people with learning disabilities

Most of us have had limited undergraduate and postgraduate training in meeting the health needs of people with learning disabilities. Some of us have concerns about how to communicate, where to start and how to engage. In the past there may have been a reliance on specialist institutional health care services which are no longer available.